Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 173

Causality?

Most of the gods in the Pantheon hid their true names behind divine titles, or Divine Names.

These titles encapsulated their divine authority and the essence of their domain, making them integral to their identity and worship.

Naturally, followers tended to gravitate toward gods whose domains were practical—battle, luck, or professions. Abstract or metaphysical gods, by contrast, were often overlooked or outright forgotten.

The God of Causality was one such deity.

Causality (??).

Cause and effect.

While the name might seem simple, it held profound meaning in philosophy: the interconnectedness of all elements in the world, like threads weaving a larger tapestry.

Theo had heard the name once or twice before but had never encountered the god's followers or seen their influence. The God of Causality was virtually unknown, a figure with no meaningful presence in the world.

And yet, the first message Theo saw after the filtering system was disabled referenced this very deity.

At that moment, a startling realization pierced Theo’s mind.

“Could it be that you’re the one who’s been sending me these messages all along?”

The messages had always guided Theo, outlining objectives and offering rewards.

They seemed to hold knowledge of the future and also warned of penalties should he fail.

• Consequences of karma.

What could be a clearer demonstration of causality than the relationship between cause and effect?

[The God of Causality wags their tail and fidgets, as if to say they can’t explain everything but appreciate the recognition.]

“….”

Wasn’t that as good as admitting it outright?

Wait, they have a tail?

[The God of Causality clears their throat and urges you to ascend.]

There was one thing that continued to bother Theo: the God of Causality seemed to act as though they knew him personally.

Was it because their messages bore a resemblance to the system prompts he had seen on the monitor in his past life?

Or was there another reason entirely?

For now, Theo decided to heed the god’s advice.

The White Tower’s ascent was far from over.

The 10th Floor

As Theo arrived on the 10th floor, he found himself standing in a dark, damp cave.

[You have entered the 10th Floor.]

[The first pain a human experiences after gaining consciousness is birth. Passing through the narrow birth canal leaves a lasting impression on the subconscious, a process both arduous and imprinted in our memory.

Yet the joy of emerging into the light of the outside world is equally profound.]

[This cave mirrors the passage of birth. To revisit your true beginnings, you must retrace your steps through the cave and return to where you came from. Doing so will grant you the right to uncover the roots of your birth.]

The light that had always guided Theo thus far vanished completely.

Even when Theo activated [Spiritual Vision], his sight remained clouded.

All that remained to him were his non-visual senses—hearing, smell, touch.

He extended his hand, gauging the narrow passage’s size.

Narrow enough for one thin person to pass at a time. The ceiling’s low—I’ll need to crouch. About 1.7 meters high. How far does it go?

Expanding his mana outward to probe his surroundings, Theo found no end in sight.

The cave twisted and branched like a labyrinth, resembling an ant nest in its complexity.

“...This is going to be hell.”

[The God of Journeys wonders how you will navigate this challenge.]

[The God of Archery clicks their tongue, saying that if you used arrows instead of swords, you could measure distances better.]

[The God of Destruction suggests smashing everything in your way as the simplest solution.]

[The God of Harmony sneers, asking if destruction won’t just collapse the cave and bury you alive.]

[The God of Destruction retorts, threatening to destroy Harmony instead.]

[The two gods clash!]

[The God of Journeys massages their temples, muttering about the noise.]

Why block my sight yet let me read these messages? Theo grumbled internally and dismissed the message window.

[The God of Causality frantically rushes to stop you from closing it…!]

Flash!

"Finally, some peace."

Theo began walking into the cave.

Though his movements were awkward and the narrow passage was uncomfortable, he encountered no major obstacles at first.

"I might get lost for a bit, but as long as I keep moving forward, I’ll manage… I hope."

But fate had other plans.

[You have lost your sense of taste. You can no longer perceive the flavors of the external world.]

[You have lost your sense of smell. You can no longer detect the scents of the external world.]

[You have lost your sense of hearing. You can no longer perceive sounds from the external world.]

When Theo’s ability to hear and smell was taken, warning bells rang in his mind.

This is dangerous!

Losing his senses in such a confined space was a death sentence.

And yet—

[You have lost your sense of touch. You can no longer feel the textures of the external world.]

One by one, Theo’s senses were stripped away until none remained.

All that was left to him was the perception granted by his mana.

Like a blind man groping an elephant’s leg, Theo pressed forward, his progress agonizingly slow.

He hit his head on the low ceiling, leaving blood trickling down his face. Tripping over jagged rocks, his legs were soon coated in blood.

Still, the cave stretched endlessly.

At some point, Theo began to doubt himself.

Wait… I’ve been here before. Haven’t I? Or maybe not. The ceiling feels different… or does it?

The seemingly infinite expanse of time and the oppressive environment gnawed at his resolve.

[Unknown conditions have restricted your mana usage. External perception has been completely severed.]

When even his final means of perception was gone, Theo’s anxieties exploded.

The darkness that enveloped him felt like it was devouring his soul, breaking him down piece by piece.

Am I even alive? Did I fail the White Tower’s trial and die here? Is this what death feels like? I think… the last time I died, it felt like this too…

Theo’s consciousness diminished, reduced to a singular, flickering speck.

The void consumed him entirely.

The Spark of Madness

Yet, at the brink of nothingness, one part of Theo refused to vanish.

The sword orb, the core of his obsession and source of his limitless inspiration, roared to life.

Where others saw madness as a weakness, it now became Theo’s fuel.

His obsession with becoming stronger, his unrelenting hunger for power, and his yearning for the throne surged forth, blazing against the darkness.

Boom-boom-boom-boom!

[The God of Causality gapes at the unprecedented phenomenon, their jaw slack and drool dripping.]

Like a universe exploding from a singular point, Theo’s consciousness expanded infinitely outward.

This cave doesn’t have a destination. There was never a path forward.

Theo looked not below but above.

This is a tower. Why would I look down when the answer is above?

With newfound clarity, Theo surged upward, his will igniting the White Tower itself.

[You have regained your senses.]

[You may now use mana again.]

[You have entered the 11th floor.]

Theo had emerged from the cave into a new layer, but he wasn’t finished.

Not yet.

The 11th floor was merely a waypoint.

[You have entered the 12th floor.]

[You have entered the 13th floor.]

And finally—

[You have conquered all 13 floors and reached the rooftop.]

Theo raised his gaze higher.

The rooftop wasn’t the end. Above that lay only one place:

The Pantheon.

Theo’s consciousness pierced through the White Tower, the sky, and the stars, reaching into the cosmos itself.

[Nirvana.]

The boundary between self and world dissolved, leaving only infinite awareness.

[The God of Causality hurriedly explains that this revelation is an anomaly caused by the fuel of madness and secrets from your past life…!]

Before the message could finish, an enormous iron gate loomed into view, shattering the display.

Boom…

The gate bore carvings of gods entangled in a chaotic dance.

Standing before it, Theo clenched his fist.