The Ultimate Passive Paradigm [LitRPG Adventure, Epic Progression]

The territory Zeryn claimed within the camp was modest, not encroaching on other areas. Despite Lachlan's warnings, disciples from various sects still harbored resentment, expressing it through threatening glances toward the surrounding soldiers. Whispered complaints reached him—grumblings about enduring such treatment in a time of crisis. All things considered, the situation remained far less chaotic than it had been initially.

Prince Daniel had been taken to his palace quarters for medical treatment. Lachlan, it seemed, knew his limits. He hadn't beaten the prince severely enough to cripple him. The injuries were painful, but they wouldn't keep him from the battlefield for long.

Nathan entered the room assigned to the Verdant Spire Sect disciples. Simple, convenient folding cots lined the space. In each corner sat medical equipment from the Artificers. Its operation was straightforward—everyone had been briefed, so there would be no fumbling in an emergency.

Nathan approached his assigned bed and tapped it three times, causing it to shrink down into a small box with a soft whoosh. Retrieving his Monster Storage Pouch, he pulled out a tube two meters long and one meter wide. Its metallic exterior caught the light, drawing the eyes of the surrounding disciples. Green fluid sloshed within, revealing a large tiger sleeping peacefully.

Argentius had insisted on coming, demanding to accompany him despite its healing process remaining incomplete. The original recovery machinery had been too large, forcing the monster to shrink its body, but the sect's Artificers had finally managed to create this portable tube. Argentius had reached the final stages of recovery and no longer required intensive care.

He knew the tiger's desire to protect him was the real reason it was here. Argentius had grown furious hearing his account of Emberwood and Cascade Gardens—not for the human casualties, but for the danger to its companion. Nathan was well aware the monster couldn't care less about human affairs; its focus was purely on its own survival, which was tied to his. His death would have devastating consequences for Argentius.

Argentius had scolded Nathan thoroughly, then demanded to come along.

And now it was still heavily sedated, as it wasn't yet time to awaken.

"How much longer until our friend can join us?" Zeryn approached and asked.

"A few days at most," Nathan said, recalling the report from the sect's staff.

"Good enough."

Nathan lowered his voice. "Isn't Lachlan afraid the royal family will cause trouble? Prince Daniel doesn't seem the type to let this slide."

Zeryn laughed. "Lachlan knows exactly what he's doing. Trust me, it's more beneficial than harmful."

With that, the team captain glanced toward his companions who had come with him, speaking louder so everyone could hear. "The frightening thing about the Major is that he doesn't yield to anyone, not nobles, not royalty. So he won't bother with us either. Remember that clearly. What's the reason? Simple. He's proving to the king that he follows no factions. By striking Prince Daniel, Lachlan has handed the king a noose to put around his own neck. For the crime of injuring royalty, the king can dispose of our Major at any time. Think about it: what does a wartime king prefer—a general he can't control, or one he can?"

Several whispered discussions broke out among the group. Elen was among those who spoke up.

"You mean the king holds the power and reason to remove Lachlan at any moment?"

"Exactly, junior brother," Zeryn replied. "More importantly, Lachlan can no longer advance in rank, and what will that mean?"

"The Rourke family's military power will decline, simultaneously weakening the Marshal's faction, which General Axel Rourke currently supports," Frank said.

Murmurs of understanding rippled through the disciples at Frank's interpretation. It was a sharp political insight—the kind of depth that frantic whispers over their PsiLinks couldn't provide. Their gazes, now full of admiration, turned back to Zeryn.

Zeryn clapped once, his approval clearly for Frank. Elen frowned at the gesture. Nathan recognized the look immediately, the sting of youthful pride at being so thoroughly outdone.

"You see," Zeryn said, his voice sharp, "we're no longer in the sect. So abandon your egos and follow Lachlan's orders. Lachlan, me, and Nathan. That's the order you must obey. Don't doubt the Major because of his reputation outside. We're at war. And a man like Lachlan, who cares for nothing but victory, is exactly who you want leading you."

"We humbly follow the order," everyone said in unison.

"After the war comes the division of spoils," Zeryn continued. "Politics and power plays will decide everything. The king will be wary of military factions during this wartime. We don't even know if there will be civil war after Mirothea. Therefore, pay attention, learn, and don't get caught in the gears. Understood?"

"Understood."

Zeryn turned back to Nathan with a smile, opening a private channel between their PsiLinks.

"You don't look anything like the Zeryn I know," Nathan sent, his thought shaping the words.

"This mask?" Zeryn raised his hand to rub his face. "I hate having to wear it more than anyone."

Nathan chuckled, saying, "That's not all of it, is it? About Lachlan's real reason."

"Of course not, but our teammates don't need to know." Zeryn winked. "What Lachlan aims for has never been confined to Caelindor. You and I saw his real motivations during the Shifting Trials. Would you let the place you plan to abandon keep you bound?"

"Obviously not."

"Exactly. Simply put, that's how it is. But I can't let our teammates see that everything isn't as complex as it appears, can I?"

"You're such a cunning devil."

Zeryn grinned, taking it as a compliment.

With everything settled, Nathan turned to Frank. The disciple—all curly brown hair and bright, enthusiastic eyes—snapped to attention. "Yes, senior brother! I'll protect this tube with my life."

"Calm down. We haven't reached the battlefield yet."

Frank nodded vigorously, moving to stand close beside where Argentius lay. The other disciples shifted away, not with fear, but with a clear reverence. Nathan understood. A healthy Tier 3 monster was more than just a beast; it was a powerful ally, a living siege engine. Argentius's strength would dramatically increase their chances of survival, and everyone in the room knew it.

Envious glances fell on Frank from every corner of the room. Nathan had no doubt that, despite its slumber, Argentius was observing them all through spirit vision. The other disciples had just lost their chance to make a good first impression on the most powerful ally they had.

"The Major invites the two of you in!" The guard stationed outside Lachlan's room announced, pushing the door open.

Nathan and Zeryn entered the most cluttered room they had ever seen in a military camp. Lachlan's quarters were neither grand nor spacious. They looked worse than those of lower-ranking soldiers. Papers and maps were piled on the bed, along with various reports. All four walls were covered with pins holding different images from the battlefield. A miniature map of the Maelivar area lay half-buried on the floor.

Lachlan stood leaning against a central table, flanked by his trusted subordinates: the young swordsman, the girl who used the Light Aspect, and a man in purple robes who commanded the Gravity Aspect. They nodded when they saw the two Verdant Spire Sect disciples enter.

The Major raised his head from the holographic image displaying the terrain, smiling.

"Sorry for the mess. The PsiLink connection isn't very stable as we get closer to Maelivar. It's like an extremely powerful signal jammer."

Zeryn waved a dismissive hand. "Traditional methods have their benefits."

"Indeed." Lachlan nodded. "Like using someone else's reputation and actions to boost subordinates' morale, right, Zeryn Valtaris?"

"Major Lachlan, you should know your reputation is being used for a noble purpose. You enjoy that, don't you?"

"I'm not opposing it," Lachlan said, a slight pout on his lips. "I'm just suggesting you be careful about what's said, and more importantly, who is listening."

"Oh." Zeryn placed a hand over his heart in mock surprise, then laughed. "Let's just say I'm always aware of the mice in the walls. I only say what I want certain ears to hear."

Lachlan responded with a smirk that Nathan knew was anything but friendly. The Major raised his hand to pull his hair back, shaking his head.

"Truly a bad habit that's hard to break. My mouth always wants to argue a few words even when there's no time."

With a gesture, Lachlan's close subordinates all departed. A low hum filled the room, and through his spirit vision, Nathan saw a shimmering mana screen envelop the space, sealing them in privacy.

"Nathan, you seem unusually quiet," Lachlan joked.

"I'm not in the mood for..."

His words died in his throat, cut off by a sudden spike from his senses and a cascade of System notifications.

Triggered [Tingling Sense]. One credit given.

Triggered [Adrenaline Boost]. One credit given.

Triggered [Battle Trance]. One credit given.

[Muscle Memory] took over, his body reacting before he could consciously think. He drew upon the reserve of Lightning essence he always kept simmering within him—a feat made possible by [Digestive Efficiency]. His hand shot out, leg bracing back as his palm opened to catch Lachlan's lightning-fast punch. Papers, chairs, and water cups were blown to various corners by the shock waves from both men, creating clanging or rattling sounds. Blue light sizzled and died out, leaving a burnt smell in the air. Somewhere, several papers had caught fire. But the person before Nathan's eyes didn't seem concerned and was still looking at him with great interest.

"So the intelligence wasn't wrong," Lachlan said, withdrawing his hand. "You're not Null Resonance."

"You seem disappointed about that?"

"Oh, not at all." Lachlan shook his head, a wide, triumphant grin spreading across his face. "This means my gamble has already paid off."

A sword blade suddenly appeared at Lachlan's throat.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Do that again and I'll kill you," Zeryn warned, his eyes ice-cold.

Lachlan raised his hands in surrender, stepping backward. "Calm down! I just wanted to test something."

"There are many ways to conduct a test. You chose the one that put your life in danger," Zeryn said, the point of his blade pressing just enough to threaten.

Nathan placed a hand on Zeryn's shoulder, a silent command to stand down. Their relationship was a constant source of confusion for him. Both were brilliant, yet they seemed to despise each other, their professional respect barely concealing the animosity that surged just beneath the surface.

"Alright, enough of this nonsense." Lachlan returned to the central table and gestured for them to approach. "Let's get down to business."

Nathan and Zeryn stood solemnly before the holographic image projecting the terrain around Maelivar. Above it, symbols representing camps positioned around the technology city appeared. Besides Lachlan's battalion, more than ten other battalions were distributed. The largest concentration was five battalions assigned near the border, operating as interceptors for any enemy forces that might slip through the defense lines.

"As you can see," Lachlan began, "there are no geniuses like you two in the camp. I assume you already know the reason?"

"Because you can't gather all your assets in one place," Nathan answered, stepping in before Zeryn could. The last thing he wanted was another confrontation, and frankly, he was tired of dealing with the man who had caused him so much trouble. Best to get this over with.

"Exactly. Beings like Sigrid or Adrian are all stationed here and here."

Lachlan pointed toward the west and north of Maelivar. Lachlan's battalion was positioned diagonally to the south.

"Each special battalion will have a Major and several outstanding individuals supporting what we're about to do. Reclaim Maelivar before something happens at the border."

The holographic image zoomed in on the border section. Numbers appeared indicating casualties and energy expenditure.

"This is just prediction based on algorithms with available data, not real-time," Lachlan explained. "As you can see, the assault on Maelivar is relentless. Unlike Mirothea, we lack the necessary unity and coordination. Every key indicator is trending downward. To put it bluntly, we're losing."

Lachlan's eyes when discussing warfare were completely different from the young man Nathan had known a few months ago. They looked more serious, more dignified, more mature, and somewhere carried a touch of worry. A true citizen of the land of Caelindor. Nathan suspected that Lachlan wouldn't dream of leaving his homeland, not until it was truly secure.

"Therefore," Lachlan concluded, "we need to retake Maelivar before the enemy can break through our two defensive lines. As long as Maelivar returns to our hands, this war will be decided. There's no chance for Mirothea to dig deeper."

"So what exactly do we need to do? It can't really be using the strength of a few battalions to attack an entire city armed to the teeth, can it?"

Nathan's question made Lachlan frown.

Nathan's eyes widened. "We're really going to do that?"

"Indeed." Lachlan nodded. "But first, you need to know the reasoning behind this."

Once again, the image changed, pulling back to Maelivar city with its four famous districts within the square architectural structures. Above it floated a terrifying aerial defense formation.

After several manipulations, Lachlan stripped away the skyscrapers and city streets, leaving a circle surrounded by strange symbols.

"The formation that caused Maelivar's fall," Lachlan said, his voice grim. "Its core is controlled by one man: Arthur Merinor. He's the only one who could have made this possible. You know the name, I assume?"

Both Nathan and Zeryn nodded.

"But you don't know how he succeeded, do you?" Lachlan asked seriously. His eyes looked up, drilling straight into none other than Nathan.

Memories flooded Nathan's mind in a torrent, making him dizzy for a moment. His eyes widened, his breathing lost control.

"You mean what?" Nathan stammered. "My dinner party?"

"Exactly," Lachlan said. "An event no one in their wildest dreams could have connected."

"What basis do you have?" Nathan demanded, his voice tight. "How could you possibly connect it to my dinner party?"

Beside him, Zeryn's eyebrows shot up. Nathan could tell his friend was completely lost, struggling to follow the invisible threads being pulled behind the scenes.

"Truthfully, I don't have overwhelming evidence," Lachlan said, crossing his arms. "But you certainly met Ruby Voss on the third night, and that mischievous girl mentioned Arthur Merinor. Correct?"

"You planted listening devices?" Nathan demanded, his voice sharp with disbelief.

"What else? Did you think my official story was the whole truth?" Lachlan scoffed. "I was present because of suspicions directed at the four great houses as well as Duke Kael Voss. But I couldn't send my subordinates because they lacked the necessary authority."

Zeryn's hand slammed on the table. "What? You suspected this from the start and still let the city fall?"

"Don't overestimate me," Lachlan said with a dismissive wave. "I was just a Tier 2 back then."

Lachlan once again displayed screens showing articles and posts slandering him on PsiLink. Most prominent were rumors that he had killed a girl after using her to satisfy his perverse desires.

The Major's eyes flashed with sadness for a moment, then returned to their icy coldness.

"Don't believe what you hear or read," Lachlan said, his voice somewhat distant. "This girl... she was my asset, placed deep inside Duke Kael Voss's administration. She had obtained some information that couldn't be transmitted through PsiLink, so she requested to meet in person. Naive girl. Even that message shouldn't have been sent. She forgot protocol in her worry and panic. When I arrived at the meeting place, her body was already lying in a small alley. And the reporters were already there, lying in wait. A perfect setup to capture images of me with her body and frame me with the most vicious rumors imaginable."

The image of the girl's corpse appeared before Zeryn and Nathan. Her hair covered her face, but the bloody cuts on her cheeks and forehead were still clearly visible. She was sprawled on the ground as if she had just collapsed, but disturbingly, no blood flowed from the fresh cuts. Her clothes were dirty with water and dust, revealing wounds that looked like they came from whip strikes.

The implication hit Nathan like a physical blow: she had died long ago, her body drained of blood, and then was simply dumped there. Cold and lonely. The girl who could have prevented the entire war from happening had been lost without any mercy. And then her name was defiled to serve a demon.

That demon fell silent before the girl's image, his hands trembling on the table.

"Afterward," Lachlan continued, "that intelligence was lost. I raised concerns that Maelivar's government was hiding something to my father. Father also warned the royal family and Caelindor's leadership. But all they offered were foolish excuses—riots, political interests, money. Their inaction led to the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers."

Raw fury radiated from Lachlan's aura, so potent Nathan could feel the air grow warmer.

"Why didn't you try to clear your name?" Nathan asked.

"Who would believe?" Lachlan sneered. "Just like you, Nathan. Who would believe you aren't hiding some secret about that mysterious bloodline of yours? You've proven your innocence, but it doesn't matter. They're all just waiting for you to slip up."

Nathan took a deep breath, his entire body going cold. The world seemed to shift with every new revelation. Every belief he held, every prejudice, was being stripped away, leaving him unsteady on shifting ground.

"My girl," Lachlan said, a flicker of affection in his voice, "she brought back one last piece of intelligence. The cuts on her face... that was the message."

Both Nathan and Zeryn had to blink several times at the Major's revelation.

"It was a method she devised," Lachlan continued. "The pattern of the wounds held the code. She even added extra cuts to hide it, to mislead anyone who looked too closely."

Ignoring their shock, Lachlan displayed a blurry image of a young man on the screen. His appearance wasn't particularly striking—square-faced with dark brown eyes.

Nathan leaned closer, a flicker of recognition in his mind. With only a few dozen guests total at his dinner parties, he could recall most faces. And this person was one of the guests from the second night, after the night Lachlan had attended.

"Disguise fluid," Lachlan analyzed. "Camouflage to blend into crowds without being detected. They were very careful. The message I received from the corpse was just the brief name Arthur. I had to spend days combing through Maelivar's history to stumble upon several names, including Arthur Merinor. When I got intel that Emrys Merinor would be there, I came to your party. My whole act with her—the jokes, the supposed infatuation—was a smokescreen to hide my real target: House Merinor. I personally followed her using my professional skills. On the second night, I discovered she had a brief exchange with this stranger in a corridor. Initially, I thought they were acquainted, but after investigation, I discovered this was likely the person my girl was trying to warn about."

The holographic screen displayed a series of guests who had attended Nathan's dinner parties. A thorough investigation like that of an obsessed person. Their backgrounds and family histories were all clearly presented.

Besides Nathan, who was alone, this stranger had the fewest connections.

"This mysterious young man," Zeryn said, "while he truly exists, simultaneously doesn't exist. This overly brief genealogy is itself a warning sign. More importantly are the net worth and motivations."

"All inadequate qualifications," Lachlan added, reinforcing Zeryn's analysis. "One could say he saved money to be present there. But afterward, on the third night, Ruby Voss participated."

Lachlan pointed toward Nathan. "Her mentioning Arthur's name confirms he was there. My theory? House Voss got nervous about House Merinor's move and sent Ruby to investigate."

He paused, letting the implication sink in. "I went back and verified every guest from the second night. The unremarkable young man had to be Arthur Merinor in disguise. Why? His real identity is just an ordinary Tier 2. Someone like that doesn't spend ten thousand Standard Mana Stones on a single dinner unless they're a pawn—a disposable asset created for a trivial task."

Lachlan smirked. "Frankly, they might have gotten away with it, if Ruby Voss hadn't said his name to you."

"And you found nothing about this person throughout The Shifting Trials," Zeryn said.

Lachlan sighed deeply, making the images of the fake Arthur Merinor disappear.

"Sadly, that's correct," the Major said, his voice heavier than before. "What's the point of holding important information if you can't reach a concrete conclusion? This Arthur Merinor is as if he never existed. You can see that various forces worked together to erase his traces. I had hoped that while everyone was distracted by the Shifting Trials, I might find a loose thread. But there was nothing. He was a ghost."

Nathan frowned, confused. "Even Celene knew about House Merinor's dead son, but you didn't?"

"Knowing a name is one thing. But understanding the reasons? The motivation? The resources required to ambush an entire nation? That's what matters. And that's what I couldn't find. Only recently did I extract some information from the Emberwood incident."

"Emberwood? How is Emberwood related?" Nathan asked urgently.

"Demon Energy," Lachlan said, "isn't simply a forbidden power. It's part of life."

The holographic image formed two spheres, white and black, balanced against each other. One side represented mana, the other represented nora, also called Demon Energy.

"While you were at Cascade Gardens, I followed the remaining clues to Maelivar," Lachlan said. "The Emberwood incident wouldn't leave me alone. For that kind of corruption to take root so deeply and grow so fast? It had to be an inside job. Internal cooperation with an external enemy.

"The question was who. With the headache House Merinor was already giving me, I decided to act on a hunch instead of waiting for perfect evidence. I started with a new hypothesis: Demon Energy and House Merinor were connected.

"That redirected my entire investigation. I started talking to citizens, asking about anything linked to the House. They couldn't silence everyone. Just like you found Celene, I eventually found what I was looking for. The Merinor child who supposedly died young? He possessed an Entropy Aspect."

Zeryn was the first to react, stepping forward. "You're joking, right? There's no way the Divine Tower would let this go unmanaged."

"Who said they didn't manage it?" Lachlan asked in return.

Realization dawned on Zeryn's face. "House Merinor faked the child's death themselves—to keep the Divine Tower from sending investigators!"

"That's also my hypothesis." Lachlan nodded.

"So how does this relate to Demon Energy or my dinner party?" Nathan asked.

It was Zeryn who answered. "Because common wisdom is wrong. Demon Energy isn't inherently evil—certain Aspects require it."

"Chaos, Death, Void," Lachlan listed, "and Entropy all need Demon Energy to grow strong. Because they carry the power of anti-life, anti-balance. Or rather, they're synonymous with Demon Energy. For these Aspects to grow, a cultivator can't just rely on mana; they have to cultivate with Demon Energy. The problem is, nora drives the mind mad. It causes a loss of control. That's why anyone with these Aspects is monitored so closely."

"Or killed to eliminate future troubles," Zeryn said. "That's why House Merinor faked this son's death. To protect him."

He could almost hear the clicks in his head as the final puzzle pieces slid into place. The entire sprawling conspiracy, the true source of the war, was suddenly and horrifyingly clear.

"But the Emberwood incident has been going on for hundreds of years," Nathan said, his voice strained with desperation. "Arthur Merinor is only a few decades old. How can they be connected?"

"Left to its own devices, that tree in Emberwood would have needed centuries more to mature enough to support the centipede demon," Lachlan said. "The speed we witnessed could only be achieved when Demon Energy was brought into this country through some channel."

"But... shouldn't the Emperor intervene?" Nathan pressed. "The connection is massive! Isn't this clear evidence that Mirothea is using Demon Energy?"

Lachlan burst into laughter, shaking his head. "What evidence, Nathan? There's no basis for saying Mirothea is using Demon Energy. Remember my words, I'm saying this is a big assumption. The most credible assumption I can create. As for House Merinor? They're insignificant. Not nearly important enough to bother the Emperor. This is our mess to clean up."

Nathan's fists clenched at his sides. He couldn't accept it. Worse than the sprawling conspiracy was the sickening realization that he had played a part in it.

"You're thinking correctly, Nathan," Lachlan announced, his voice devoid of warmth. "Our analysts, including a Tier 6 Time Aspect Cultivator, concluded that Arthur's power spiked a few months ago."

His eyes locked onto Nathan's. "It happened after the night he attended your dinner party. Something there enhanced his Aspect Affinity, allowing him to break through a critical limitation in his Entropy power."

"That's why we were too late. If not for that dinner, Arthur Merinor wouldn't have been strong enough to become the core of that formation. Not yet. We could have dragged this conspiracy into the light and prevented this war."

A single, silent decision. A harmless dinner party. And now an entire nation was at war, and millions of lives were at stake. He had changed everything.

A tremor ran through Nathan's body, a physical manifestation of his horror. "What exactly can the formation do?"

"It accelerates Entropy," Lachlan said, his voice flat, devoid of any emotion. "The entire city will decay into dust. And everyone in it."