The Sound Of Despair

It was exhilarating like he was being reborn. Not even the [Avatar of Thunder] transformation could compare to it. Sturm understood why people called it a step towards heaven, as it genuinely felt like he had advanced as a human being. Most people would not feel as shocked or overwhelmed as Sturm did, but his enhanced senses made him notice the changes very clearly. 

A definite increase in strength, agility, willpower, and even willpower. On top of that, Sturm's perception improved so much, the way he saw the world changed. The colors looked more alive, the smell was more intense, the sounds were clearer, and he could feel even the weakest air currents brushing against his skin.

There was nothing that did not improve, and his [Electroanalysis] showed the change in precise numbers. 

[Electroanalysis]

One Celestial Step

-Average Body Strength: 14,17098 (+8)

-Average Agility: 21.95233, (+7.8)

-Constitution: 13.43974 (+5.2)

-Intelligence: 23.927512 (+7.2)

-Perception: 82.61917

<<Everything increased, but why did perception improve so much more than the others? Maybe it is because Licht said that the only way to increase it was through advancing through steps or tiers. The improvement has to be bigger, so it can keep up with the other physical attributes. How high does the perception of a tenth-step noble be then? Can we even ambush someone like that?>>

If Sturm's theory was true, then they had to revise their revenge plans immediately. Arcanus Attalus would literally smell them from a mile away. It was not like the change in attributes was enough anyways. A single step was simply not enough to catch up to a noble. Without being at least at the third step, Sturm would have to forget about revenge.

<<It's ok. There are plenty of others I can already take care of. Siren Song, don't think that a few burned warehouses have cleansed you of your crimes, and Sebastian, your brother, won't be able to save you this time. Not even if he managed to become a 5-star appraiser and a noble.>>

"Son, how are you feeling? Your slave mark has been erased as you ascended the next step. Congratulations, you are officially a commoner now. Even if you are only a first step, you will be able to actively take part in society now. 

The time as a slave was finally over. After ten years in this world, in which he had been discriminated against countless times, Sturm was finally free. Buying wares and property, traveling, and even officially joining the Mercenary Association were all possible now. Not only that, as a commoner, restoring and rebuilding the Thunder Merchant Group was not a dream anymore either. 

Sturm could end it all here, leave it all behind and begin anew. If he left Dagger's Rock Island, no one would ever suspect him of being a former slave. No enemies, no grudges, just a new white canvas to be painted. Edgar and Reinhardt would have both wanted that for him, but…

<<I can't. I am sorry, but I won't let them get away with it. They. Have. To. Pay.>>

"I feel great. This is incredible. You said I can only advance once a month; why is that so?" Sturm asked.

"I do not know, but it is dictated as such by God. Trying to circumvent it by going to other priests does not work either. We know when the last step had been taken. My personal theory is to decrease the burden on the body, as a sudden increase in strength can have negative consequences. No matter what, as a gift from God, the celestial step is outside the natural progress of us humans. Is that the truth, however? Only the Creator knows," answered the priest.

It was like he had read Sturm's mind, as visiting another church was actually the first thing he considered. There was no assurance that it would be faster, though, as traveling to and gaining access to other priests would be a new obstacle to overcome by itself.

All of it could wait now because too much time had already been lost by entering the church. Sturm bowed towards the priest and thanked him sincerely before rushing towards the tower. The priest did not look offended nor surprised and simply resumed his prayers. 

The stairs inside the tower had not ended at the ground level but led even further down. Downstairs was some kind of library where the priest and curates would study. The bookshelves provided a perfect cover, just like in many movies. Instead of installing a hidden mechanism, Sturm simply moved the shelf with brute force, though.

Creating a tunnel behind it was easy. By taking out the earth and transferring it to the lightning space, Sturm could not only advance extremely fast but was also able to dispose of any signs that a tunnel had been dug. Fifteen minutes later, Sturm had returned to the surface outside the city walls. 

Only a few guards were left on the walls, as most had been ordered to support the extinguishing effort. Consequently, getting inside the city was a piece of cake, even without Schatten's support.

Sturm was connected to his contracted beasts and could innately feel the direction they were in. While he was still getting used to the sudden increase in power, Sturm nonetheless enjoyed his new strength. 

<<Getting stronger will never get old. Unless I turn bald and defeat everything with a single strike, I guess.>>

Taking in satisfaction from taking his first step towards heaven did not slow him down, though. On the contrary, lives were at risk, and the people were suffering because of his mistakes. So Sturm did not hesitate to activate [Avatar of Thunder], even if it meant that he would attract unwanted attention by shining like a lightbulb in the dark. Every second mattered, and prioritizing the church had already been morally wrong enough. 

Even while they were distracted, some guards and townsfolk noticed a streak of lightning jumping from one roof to another. They mostly ignored it, but some guards relayed the information to their superiors. If it was a magic beast, then appropriate measures would have to be taken. Who knew, maybe it even was the perpetrator of the warehouses' destructions?

{How is the situation?} Sturm asked mentally.

{Sturm, you're back! Was your advancement successful? Only three fires have not been contained yet, as the city lord's guards have personally stepped in to help. There is no sign of the mage, though. I think he already left the town,} Licht answered.

{I can confirm. I overheard guards saying it is a shame that Arcanus Attalus left because no lives would have been lost with his assistance,} added Schatten.

It made sense; the only reason the noble mage was on a small island like Dagger's Rock was to collect Edgar, who had blown himself up. Reinhardt had died as well, and the slave had run into a magic beast-infested forest. So there was literally no reason to remain behind. Sturm felt disappointed but knew it ultimately was for the best.

{It is what it is. Originally I wanted to roam the Pirate Seas some more after dealing with the mage, but the plans have changed. First, we will save as many people as we can and take care of the few little rats that remain here on the island. Afterward, after I take my third celestial step, we will follow Arcanus Attalus to the Empire. As a noble from an influential family, it should not be too hard to localize him.}

The two beasts agreed and informed him of the location of the burning warehouse they could not attend yet. While the beasts used mana matter to snuff out fires, Sturm, inspired by how he had dug the tunnel, simply transferred all the burning wood he could find into the lightning space. 

If Schatten and Licht returned inside it now, they would spot a giant hill made of earth and ashes. Together with the whole town's efforts, the crisis had been overcome. The tally of deaths reached a total of 15 people. Eight slaves and seven commoners had been trapped in burning buildings and either burned or suffocated to death. 

The city lord praised the efforts, as dozens of burning warehouses and houses had only led to the death of seven people. He promised to find the culprit who laid the fires and publicly hang him or it in front of the seven graves. The citizens cheered, and the commoners felt incredibly grateful. 

Most nobles would not care much about the commoners, but their city lord demonstrated he was not like the others. Public support for him increased, and when asked to clear the rubble and reconstruct the buildings, most of the townsfolk volunteered. Even with 15 lives lost, except for the merchants who had lost almost everything, the general mood was cheerful and positive. 

Sturm, exhausted from his efforts to reduce casualties, was resting on top of a bed inside an inn. Cuddling next to him was a dog-sized white tiger and a similarly big wolf.

<<Fifteen...I have killed fifteen people.>>

The moment Sturm had started to rest, reality finally hit him.