Chapter 387: Echoes of Forgotten Bonds [Part 2]

Echoes of Forgotten Bonds [Part 2]

Silence lingered within the endless soul realm.

The expressions on every incarnation became unusually solemn.

Even Azriel, who had spent the past few moments teasing Reed without restraint, no longer wore his carefree smile.

Victor quietly observed everyone.

The sudden change in atmosphere told him everything.

The Universal Emperor...

It was not merely a name.

It was something that every incarnation regarded with the utmost seriousness.

After several moments, Azriel finally exhaled.

"Sorry, Victor."

His voice was calm.

"As you are now..."

"We cannot tell you much about the Universal Emperor."

Victor remained silent, allowing him to continue.

"The only thing we can say..."

Azriel’s crimson eyes met Victor’s golden gaze.

"...is that the Universal Emperor is our one true enemy."

For the first time since Victor had met him...

There wasn’t even a trace of humor on Azriel’s face.

The carefree Vampire Emperor who constantly joked with everyone had disappeared.

Standing before Victor now...

Was the Blood Monarch who had once faced an unimaginable enemy.

Around them...

Hudson slowly lowered his head.

Eddy quietly folded his arms.

Reed’s fists tightened unconsciously.

Kevin remained expressionless, yet his eyes reflected memories that words could never fully describe.

Victor could almost feel the invisible weight pressing upon the entire soul realm.

He slowly nodded.

"All right."

"I won’t ask about the Universal Emperor for now."

His answer surprised several incarnations.

Azriel blinked.

"You aren’t disappointed?"

Victor smiled faintly.

"If all of you agree that I’m not ready..."

"Then asking further serves no purpose."

"I’d rather become strong enough to learn the truth than force an answer today."

For a brief moment...

A smile returned to Azriel’s face.

"That’s exactly the answer I expected."

Hudson nodded in approval.

"Patience has always been one of your greatest strengths."

Victor looked around at the five incarnations once more.

"In that case..."

"Let’s return to the reason I came here."

He paused briefly.

"I wanted to ask all five of you something."

His expression became serious.

"Can you tell me..."

"...whether any of your companions survived the passage of time?"

"Is anyone still alive in this era... waiting somewhere in this world?"

The incarnations exchanged glances.

Azriel stepped forward first.

"You’ve probably already figured this out."

He pointed toward the outside world with a grin.

"Diana and I know each other."

Victor wasn’t surprised.

The way Azriel had spoken about her before already hinted at an old friendship.

Azriel continued,

"Aside from Diana..."

"The Dragon War Goddess Kia is the only other companion of mine who survived."

His smile gradually faded.

"Most of my comrades fell during my final battle."

"The few who survived that battle..."

"They’re gone now as well."

He looked toward the distant horizon.

"Among everyone gathered here..."

"I’m the oldest."

"So it isn’t surprising that almost everyone I knew has long since vanished."

His tone remained calm...

Yet Victor could hear the loneliness hidden beneath those words.

Thousands of years...

Enough to erase almost everything.

Hudson spoke next.

"As for me..."

"The Goddess of Justice Jenna..."

"My adopted daughter..."

"She’s the only one powerful enough to survive even the ravages of time."

A gentle smile appeared on his weathered face.

"Well..."

"She’s a Goddess now."

"So time is no longer much of a concern for her."

Although he smiled...

Victor noticed the sadness hidden within his eyes.

A father...

Separated from his daughter by countless ages.

Reed scratched the back of his head.

"I’m honestly not sure."

"I don’t know whether any of my companions survived."

He shrugged helplessly.

"I hope they did."

"But I simply don’t know."

Then...

Kevin quietly stepped forward.

His expression remained perfectly calm.

Yet everyone else instinctively turned toward him.

Victor sensed there was a reason.

Kevin slowly spoke.

"After my battle with the Universal Emperor..."

"My civilization..."

"My friends..."

"My family..."

"Everything..."

"...was erased from existence."

The soul realm became deathly silent.

Kevin continued in the same calm voice.

"Humanity itself was forced to begin again from nothing."

Victor’s pupils contracted.

His heart skipped a beat.

A civilization... erased completely?

He had already guessed the Universal Emperor was terrifying.

But hearing Kevin calmly describe the destruction of an entire civilization...

Made the scale of that enemy almost unimaginable.

Victor silently looked at Kevin.

Someone capable of fighting Azriel...

Someone acknowledged as the third strongest incarnation...

Yet even he couldn’t protect his world...

For the first time...

Victor truly understood why every incarnation carried such grave expressions whenever the Universal Emperor was mentioned.

Kevin had survived only as a soul.

Everything else...

Had been lost forever.

Before Victor could say anything...

Eddy suddenly looked toward him.

"Victor."

"May I check something first?"

Victor looked puzzled.

"What is it?"

Eddy smiled gently.

"Can you show me your chest?"

Although confused by the unusual request...

Victor didn’t hesitate.

He loosened his jacket and shirt just enough to reveal the upper part of his chest.

The faint birthmarks upon his skin became visible.

Eddy stepped closer.

His golden eyes carefully examined the markings.

Several seconds passed.

Then...

A smile slowly appeared on his face.

"It’s faded..."

"But it’s still there."

Victor looked down.

"My birthmarks?"

"I also had them during my life as Demon Lord Anos."

He looked back at Eddy.

"Are they important?"

Eddy nodded.

"They are."

He gently pointed toward the first mark.

"These markings..."

"...are the link connecting me to two of the greatest companions of my lifetime."

Victor listened attentively.

"You remember Azriel mentioning that I created the Moon Edge Style with my partner?"

Victor nodded.

Eddy smiled nostalgically.

"That faded crescent moon..."

"Originally shone with brilliant silver light."

"It is the mark of Tsukiyomi..."

"My partner."

"The woman who helped me create the Moon Edge Style."

His voice carried unmistakable warmth.

Then he pointed toward the second symbol.

"And beside it..."

"The bright sun surrounded by countless twinkling stars."

"That is the contract mark between myself and Dragon Mother Tiamat."

Victor looked carefully at both faded symbols.

Until today...