Chapter 1824 - 1824: Promise Me

"Your Highness," said Red Rage, bowing to Uyuniya. He turned to Elita. "Honorable Paladin."

Elita was baffled.

"Red Rage?" She turned to Skullius. "I would be glad to have him, but…are you sure?"

"It is my pleasure to serve you and the princess in your righteous endeavor. This is not a stake only my Liege has an interest in."

The nod Skullius gave, supporting his Apostle's sentiment, made Elita feel a tad bit better, but her face remained twisted into a knot.

Uyuniya, on the other hand, was hung up on something else. She couldn't help wondering if she'd just been overthinking. "What do you mean Red Rage is one of a kind?"

Skullius waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. Anyway, about those questions I had…"

The Metgard conjured him a seat. "You said there's strife in your family – the royal family – and that a majority of them are Void Users, right, Uyuniya?"

The princess narrowed her eyes and chose to go along, disregarding her earlier question. She chalked Skullius' dismissal of it up to him being wary of Subossais.

"That's right."

Nodding, Skullius turned to Elita. "I considered Aurolio to be quite talented. He was very proficient with both Aigas' domestic power system and Voided Death. His Voided Death aspect alone was a testament to his ingenuity." He leaned forward. "You were a good Paladin Champion, but I'd praise you moreso for your heart rather than your talent for combat. In the latter, I considered Aurolio to be superior. So… why is it that Void took you from Aigas to train instead of him?"

Elita crossed her arms and donned a funny smile.

"Well, that ruthless verse of honesty just killed all my empathy for you," she said lightly and also found a seat. "But you're right. Aurolio is far more talented than I am." She gave him an amused look. "I feel like you already know the reason why it was me and not him. You already said it, in fact."

"What you really want to know is why the royalty on Zelozeld was almost completely chosen as Voided Death Users, right? From the way I've described them so far, they must all seem like versions of Aurolio – at least before he changed for the better."

Skullius gave a soft nod. "I figure Void doesn't necessarily care for the heart. She was willing to partner with Fulgardt of all people, whom she used and discarded."

According to TITEMIUS, the Acceleration only came to be because Void allowed the Immoral to rip open her body.

"She can be callous," said Uyuniya. "Sometimes, it's necessary. My family is full of incredible prodigies. The Mastered Void Gate was hardly a bar to clear for most of them. They obtained access to it not too long after awakening Voided Death. Void probably admired that. She saw the strain of talent. I was chosen too, but I was a late bloomer. My siblings almost crushed me with their bloated personalities and crude egos. For me, becoming Divine was the only way I could guarantee my survival and keep my own ambitions for the family alive."

"Becoming Divine is essential for the next stage of Voided Death – what proceeds the Mastered Void Gate," added Elita. It was almost as though she'd sensed the little itch of curiosity Skullius had.

Indeed, ascending to Divinity would drastically improve Uyuniya's power and give her a better chance against her siblings, but even back when Elita explained how exactly she helped the princess become Divine, Skullius had felt that it all seemed so… desperate. This finally explained it.

Having Void help facilitate a Contract with the elders in the Purity for a Treasure that had Uyuniya embedded in it.

Using the body of the second-ranked Paladin Champion and her Blessing to grow a plague through the poor Cursed Bloods in order to satisfy the conditions of Divinity for Uyuniya.

(A/N: Refer to Ch.1311-1313.)

Betraying Revia's trust.

All of it required too much sacrifice for a simple cause like… getting marginally stronger. Exponential strength was on the line.

"So, you're just the ultimate companion?" Skullius asked Elita. "Void brought you out of Aigas to serve as Uyuniya's aid in a family of other, power-hungry Void Users? To what end? Whatever is happening on Zelozeld right now… does it feed into Void's plan?"

Uyuniya sighed. "I genuinely don't know. There might be thousands of other royal families like mine on many different worlds, all chosen for something." He looked at Elita. "And maybe with a reasonable companion among them."

Elita shrugged. "…Maybe."

Skullius hummed in thought and glanced at Subossais. He took a nanosecond to muse about just how much the Warlord actually absorbed from their conversation before rising to his feet.

"Well, as far as companions go," he said, approaching Elita, "none compare to you."

Elita's brow rose. "Don't let your subordinates hear you say that."

Skullius chuckled. "I'm serious. I never forgot, you know? That first time we met in Inhone City, you saved me. Without you, I would have been apprehended by the Purity. And because you helped me then, I was convinced UNCoddled – my old curse – killed you." He chuckled. "Until you suddenly returned and saved me again from Boron. Then you saved me from my hypocrisy."

(A/N: Refer to Ch.127 for the Inhone story.)

Elita looked immensely uncomfortable. "Come now, you don't need to keep mentioning this."

"On the contrary," said Skullius, and his expression softened so much that he hardly looked like a seasoned expert, an Authority of the Null Verse. "Very few people ever managed to endure my curse. You did, and after surviving that experience, you went on to commit yourself to doing good… again. I fully believe that Void is a crazy sockethole, but she is smart. She knows enough to exploit your heart's worth. Don't let her – whatever her plans are. And if you can't do it on your own, call for me."

Elita found it hard to look into Skullius' eyes. "I told you: You're taking on too much. How are you so sure you can come to our aid when you're already fighting an impossibly powerful enemy? You're bound here, aren't you?"

Skullius grabbed her shoulders gently. "I'll admit, you were right. I'm getting greedy. But biting more than I can chew is my Direction, especially when my family is on the line."

The former Paladin Champion stared into the Hybrid's eyes. Tears were welling inside hers.

"Elita, promise me."

"Promise what exactly?"

"That you'll call for me."

Elita had no idea why her hands were trembling. What was it? She was fine – she'd been alright all along. Since travelling with Void after being freed from the custody of the Purity; meeting Uyuniya and her family; helping her become Divine; punishing the Purity elders; facing Revia again; fighting the masked man; coming face to face with Paliothese; coming to Breaking Chasm #59…

She'd been fine.

So… why?

Staring into Skullius' eyes, she felt him spy on everything inside her – the chinks in her valiant armour. She was… weary.

"Promise me, you'll call. Sister."

Before she knew it, Elita was embracing Skullius so tightly that she thought she might never let go. Skullius embraced her back, stroking her curly hair and pulling her head against his cheek.

"I swear, I will."

The two lingered for a while, stitched together warmly. Uyuniya watched, a look of surprise on her face. Or was it… guilt?

Elita was the one to pull away. She gave Skullius' chest a light punch.

"Don't die," she said, wiping her tears.

"Noted," said the Hybrid, and he turned to Uyuniya. "You're not excluded from this, you know?"

The princess gave a shallow smile. "I know."

Nodding, Skullius turned to Subossais, who'd been eerily silent.

"That must have been uncomfortable to watch," he said. "I think they're ready to leave now. If you would…" He gestured for the Warlord to lead the way out of Amanas.

Subossais grunted and did as the Hybrid asked. As soon as he left the Metgard, however, Skullius opened the Mobile Maverick Library and closed it in a rapid sequence that none of the Void Users perceived. Something had spilled out of the dimensional space, settling into the Amanas, hidden still.

Only Red Rage saw it. He already had his instructions regarding the Null Living thing.

Skullius gave one last goodbye and left the Metgard as well. Standing next to Subossais, he watched as Amanas rose into the sky.

The Obscurosphere was under the Aspire to Divine's control now. It could be altered as they wished to dictate entry, exit, and the Breaking Chasm's visibility. Thus, when Amanas streaked high and fast, piercing into the horizon, it met no resistance.

Skullius' gaze lingered on the vessel long after it'd left. This would be the last time he would see the two Void Users for a while.

"For a supposed 'monster', you sure are sentimental, even more than I initially thought. Feels like a ruse, though – forced, even," said Subossais.

"I never said I was a monster."

"All anomalies are monsters. You're no different. The Sovereign General will reveal your true colours."

Skullius laughed.

"Maybe." He turned to the Warlord. "I'll reveal yours."