79 Luke

{LUKE POV}

{REALM: THE SEA OF STARS}

{DEPTH 15}

As a man and a professional, Luke valued knowledge like no other. As was his profession as a professor at one of the most prestigious universities in the whole world, his word was respected, and his work was valued by both artists and fellow peers alike. He had worked with both private and government organizations in various things ranging from simple charity work to advanced weaponry and logistics, and his name was plastered all over the news whenever one of his proteges or his own studies were proven to be useful for the world. And yet despite all of these accolades... Despite his name almost being spoken among the greats such as Newton or Einstein, it still wasn't enough. It always felt like he could do more. That he could further his knowledge further and give more of his all even through his old age.

And yes, he knew he had already died. He accepted such an outcome, but if he was offered a chance to live again... To learn and to further himself for the betterment of humanity, then he would be a fool not to take a chance on such an offer.

"You're really making things more difficult on yourself, my Champion," a smug voice called out to him from behind in frustration. "Ughh... I wish I can just tell you what to do right now instead of having to rely on vagueries and half-hearted advice..."

The old professor let out a soft chuckle at the naive and smug voice of Mimir casually standing behind him. Despite obviously being the lesser between their relationship, it almost felt like he was talking to one of his more ambitious students whenever he talked with the literal Goddess of Knowledge. At first, he was at awe with the fact that the gods were real and that he had been good enough to earn the patronage of the Goddess of Knowledge herself, but the longer their relationship went, the more he realized that the gods were closer to mortals than they would probably like to admit. They were very much human in their personalities, their wants, their mannerisms. Even Mimir herself acted more like a college student than a goddess that demanded respect. It was amusing, in a sense, however. It reminded him of the good old days when students actually wanted to learn instead of merely wanting to advance their position in life.

"The attacks have lessened considerably," Luke sagely pointed out, his book casually open as he went through its pages like nothing. "We're boxing the Champion of Bellona in despite the pressure, and the other Champions that you've stated are nowhere to be found so far, possibly trying to avoid us as well."

While the fight against the ice-wielding Champion of Bellona wasn't going as expected, it was still moving at a pace that was perfectly acceptable. Not ideal, but that was to be anticipated with how nonsensical the world around him now seemed. His command over [Mimir's Knowledge] was still far from perfect, however, but more experience would only help him wield his newfound powers over time.

"I suggest that we move on foot now, my Champion," Mimir helpfully suggested from her perch on their small vessel. "The sea has frozen over due to my older brother's Champion, and it would allow us to better close the gap with stealth rather than having to free our ship from all of this ice."

"So it would seem..."

Taking heed of his goddess's advice, Luke stepped off of the boat and proceeded through the sea on foot. Even now, the lack of projectiles meant that either his opponent had given up in pursuing them, or he had suddenly been engaged by another Champion. Considering Mimir's warning regarding at least two other Champions being in the vicinity, it was more than likely that the case here was more the latter rather than the former.

Gently raising his book in front of him, his trusty source of knowledge levitated ever so slightly above his palm, pages upon pages of his own knowledge flying around him as he mentally went through a thousand calculations and formulae in but a single second. Through sheer willpower, the laws of physics bow to his whim, each page now having the ability to change the world around them with but a single flick of his wrist.

"Scan..."

With a small breath, the Champion of Mimir exerted his will as a small image of the surrounding area appeared on one of his many pages. Taking a look, it would seem that the ice had utterly frozen the entirety of the sea around them. Although, a single straight line of water seemed to be forming somewhere near him. The work of another Champion, perhaps?

Willing another page before him, Luke willed it to combust before launching it in the direction of the anomaly before making his way there himself. Sure enough, his hunch was correct as he saw a young man quickly taking cover from his attack.

/Ah, is that little Nyx's Champion?/ Mimir quickly supplied. /That means Big Brother Tyche's Champion should also be close by./

'I will keep that in mind, Lady Mimir.'

Seeing a new target, Luke took advantage of his surroundings as he willed the ice around the Champion to trap him in, preventing him from escaping.

/I see that you'll be changing targets, my Champion,/ his goddess remarked. /Is that wise?/

'It will be a calculated risk,' he promptly responded. 'Less Champion in the Game would only aid us, don't you agree?'

/Very well. I'll trust your judgment then,/ Mimir hummed. /Be sure to never underestimate him, however. Perhaps the power of Chaos can be just as deadly as it can be... chaotic, for a lack of a better term./

Luke simply chuckled as he took another step. Mimir's ways of skirting the laws bound to her were amusing to witness. Truly, knowing that even the gods themselves have rules that they were beholden to was a wonderful insight to how divinity worked.

"Going somewhere, Champion of Nyx?" he greeted the young man holding a knife in front of him. "An unexpected surprise, but certainly not an unwelcome one. I knew there was a reason why the ice storm suddenly stopped, but I didn't think that another Champion got into my existing fight with another."

This was a good opportunity to further his cause in the Game. While the Champion of Bellona was distracted, he should trim the competition down to size.