Chapter 50: The Origin Fusion Began (2)

Chapter 50

He wanted Orion to experience the simple things in life without being constantly haunted by the endless suffering he had witnessed. After all, he had already suffered enough, and there was no need for him to continue carrying every single burden into his new life.

However, there was still one final thing that needed to be done.

The being raised another finger, and this time, he directed his attention toward Orion’s will.

Orion’s will, which had reached the level of infinity, was completely suppressed and locked away. The process was necessary for the same reason his memories had been sealed, as his Infinite Will remaining unrestricted would eventually lead to Orion being erased by the very power that defined him.

After all, possessing an Infinite Will while inhabiting such a weak vessel was a recipe for disaster. The disparity between the two was simply too great, and his will had reached a level that his current body and existence couldn’t safely accommodate.

Without the proper restrictions, the consequences would be catastrophic.

And so, the being sealed his Infinite Will as well.

The seals placed upon Orion’s memories and will wouldn’t remain absolute forever. Instead, they would gradually weaken over time, loosening little by little as Orion grew stronger.

With every stage of growth, the restrictions would become less effective, allowing him to gradually recover what had been sealed away. Eventually, when he became strong enough to bear the full weight of everything within him, the seals would shatter completely.

But for now, this was the only thing the being could do.

Orion’s body continued floating higher into the air, and then something extraordinary happened.

A rainbow-coloured orb slowly moved away from the white pedestal upon which it had rested. It drifted through the air toward Orion’s floating body before finally coming to a stop above his chest.

For a brief moment, the orb remained motionless before descending toward him.

The instant it touched Orion’s chest, the entire galaxy shook. The countless stars scattered throughout the vast expanse trembled violently, their brilliance fluctuating as though the very foundations of existence had been disturbed.

Orion’s body began to glow with a brilliant white light. The rainbow-coloured orb gradually sank into his chest, passing through his flesh without resistance before merging with his very soul.

And the moment that happened, everything changed.

The galaxy, which had been shaking violently just moments earlier, suddenly became eerily silent. The countless shining stars began to dim, and the flow of time came to a complete halt.

Everything stopped.

The movement of energy, the passage of time, and the countless invisible processes that governed the surrounding existence all fell into stillness. It was as though existence itself had taken a deep breath, as though the entire universe was holding its breath in anticipation of what was about to happen.

Then, a blinding light erupted from Orion’s body.

The brilliance was so intense that it engulfed his entire figure in an instant, spreading from his head to his toes until nothing of his physical form could be seen. A bright rainbow-coloured cocoon formed around him, enveloping his body completely as its surface shimmered with countless hues that seemed to contain the mysteries of the universe itself.

The cocoon pulsed gently.

Within it, Orion’s very existence was undergoing a transformation that would change the course of his life forever.

"The Origin fusion has begun..." 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

The being spoke calmly before vanishing.

---

In the next instant, he appeared right before the first ancient being Orion’s group had encountered.

Rikan.

The being’s gaze settled upon him as he calmly called his name.

"Rikan."

At the sound of that familiar voice, Rikan’s eyes fluttered open. For a brief moment, the surrounding space seemed to grow still as his entire being trembled, his eyes widening in awe, shock, and disbelief.

The being standing before him was someone whose existence was far beyond anything Rikan could compare himself to. He stared at the figure, seemingly struggling to process what he was seeing, before falling to his knees without hesitation.

His head lowered in reverence and respect.

"Lord, you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the being stopped him with a wave of his hand. His tone became slightly more serious, although it remained as calm as ever.

"The Origin is merging with its new master."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"This fragment of my spirit will soon disappear."

Rikan’s hands clenched, and a rare emotion flashed through his usually emotionless eyes. He didn’t want the Lord to vanish.

No...

The Lord had already done far too much to simply disappear like this. The thought of losing him, even after everything that had happened, stirred something deep within Rikan that he rarely allowed himself to feel.

At the same time, however, he understood the situation better than anyone.

Most of the Lord’s existence had already been destroyed. What remained before him was merely a fragment, a small remnant of someone who had once possessed an existence far greater than what stood before him now.

And even that fragment would eventually disappear.

The moment the Origin fully merged with its new wielder, the Lord’s remaining spirit would vanish as well. There was nothing Rikan could do to prevent it, and the realization weighed heavily upon him.

Yet, before he could say anything else, the being spoke once more.

"Rise, Rikan."

His voice was calm and firm.

"We have some trouble to deal with."

Rikan slowly raised his head. The being’s gaze remained warm and composed, just as it had always been throughout the countless ages Rikan had known him.

The Lord had always possessed that same calmness and warmth, no matter the circumstances or how serious the situation became. He had always remained the same, and now, even as his remaining spirit approached its final moments, that familiar expression hadn’t changed.

Rikan wanted to ask what trouble he was referring to. However, before he could utter a single word, a powerful ripple spread outward from the location where the fusion was taking place.

The instant that ripple reached him, his expression changed. His eyes narrowed as he turned his attention toward the distant source of the disturbance.

The fusion...

The surrounding space wouldn’t be able to nullify the transformation. The energy being released by the fusion was simply too overwhelming, and the laws governing this realm wouldn’t be able to suppress it completely.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

During the fusion, the veil concealing the Origin would be lifted, exposing its presence to the countless beings who had been searching for it.

And those beings wouldn’t remain idle once they discovered what was happening.

Several powerful existences had long coveted the Origin, each wishing to claim its power for themselves. Now that the Origin was finally choosing a new master, the opportunity they had been waiting for had arrived.

Without the slightest doubt, this realm was about to become a warzone.

Rikan’s gaze flashed as he immediately rose to his feet, his expression becoming solemn while he nodded.

There was no time to hesitate. He needed to gather his allies, and they had to act immediately to ensure that nothing interfered with the fusion.

The Origin had to merge successfully with its new host. They couldn’t afford to let anyone disrupt the process.

Rikan quickly sent out a signal toward several of his allies. It spread far and wide, passing through the boundaries of the realm and reaching the powerful beings who had been waiting for this moment.

All the Overlords of the Order Path were summoned.

The strongest among the strong began gathering, their attention immediately drawn toward the impending crisis.

Their mission was simple.

They had to stop the other Paths from interfering with the fusion and ensure that the Origin’s new wielder emerged successfully.

And if anyone attempted to prevent that from happening, they would have to fight.

Rikan and the former wielder of the Origin took to the sky. Their figures shot upward, crossing the boundaries of the realm as they prepared themselves for the all-out war that was about to unfold.

Rikan couldn’t help feeling worried.

After all, this wasn’t going to be a small war. It wasn’t going to be one of those conflicts that could be settled within a short period, with only a few powerful beings suffering the consequences.

No.

This was going to be a war that would echo far and wide, with consequences spreading across countless realms, affecting innumerable beings and shaking the very foundations of existence.

It would be an absolute war.

And they couldn’t afford to lose.

For the first time in countless ages, Rikan felt a trace of nervousness creeping into his heart. He knew what was at stake, what would happen if they failed, and, most importantly, that the enemies they were about to face wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever it took to claim the Origin.

Yet, while Rikan was occupied with those thoughts, the former wielder of the Origin glanced at his hands.

A faint smile appeared on his face before he spoke in a relaxed tone.

"I have a feeling that damn hothead will be the first to arrive here."

His smile gradually became more dangerous, and a faint glint appeared in his eyes, suggesting that he was already looking forward to the confrontation.

"Who knows? Maybe I’ll be able to tear a part of him apart before I fade away."

He chuckled softly.

"That would make for a pretty good farewell gift to the world."

---

Meanwhile, in a distant realm consumed by endless despair, hatred, and pain, a being sat upon a throne made entirely of red-hot magma.

His crimson-red hair fell around his head, and his breathing was steady, almost leisurely. Yet, every breath he took was anything but ordinary.

Each time he inhaled, the heat radiating from his body burned a hole through the infinite magma surrounding him. Every time he exhaled, the very realm he inhabited trembled violently, unable to withstand the presence of the being residing within it.

He had remained in a state of stasis for countless ages. There had been no reason for him to awaken, no desire to involve himself in the petty squabbles of other beings, and nothing in existence had been interesting enough to warrant his attention.

At least, that was what he had believed for countless ages.

But now, something had changed.

A powerful ripple of energy reached him, and his eyes snapped open. Within them burned the fierce brilliance of molten magma, their sharpness and suffocating pressure enough to make the surrounding space tremble.

Yet, despite the intensity they carried, his gaze remained completely calm and contained.

For a moment, he simply stared into the distance before his expression changed and his eyes widened slightly.

That feeling...

There was no mistaking it.

His gaze sharpened as a sudden realization struck him.

"The Origin..."

His voice was low, yet the moment the words escaped his mouth, the surrounding realm trembled.

"The Origin is choosing a new master!"

The shock behind his words caused his voice to rise, and the force of his presence immediately became overwhelming. The realm he inhabited was burdened by an unimaginable pressure, its very foundations trembling as though they were approaching the point of breaking.

His gaze changed, and the calmness that had defined him moments earlier was replaced by a terrifying determination.

"Never..."

His voice echoed throughout the realm.

"There is no way I am going to allow that to happen!"

The magma surrounding his throne erupted violently. The entire realm shook as the being slowly rose from his seat, his crimson-red hair fluttering under the immense pressure radiating from his body.

"The Origin will be mine this time!"

His voice became even more forceful.

"It will only be mine!"

The moment those words left his mouth, he kicked off, and his figure vanished instantly, traversing space at a speed that defied all logic and made no sense by any ordinary standard.

The force generated by his movement was so powerful that the realm itself couldn’t withstand the impact. Space ruptured, and the surrounding boundaries shattered.

Before the realm could even begin to recover from the overwhelming force that had swept through it, the being was already gone.

Then, the final blow arrived.

The realm, which had endured the strain of housing such a terrifying existence for countless ages, finally reached its limit and shattered. The entire realm was destroyed in an instant, collapsing under the pressure it had been forced to endure for so long.

Its fate was no different from that of the countless other realms that calamity of a being had used as his dwelling place. One after another, they had suffered destruction, and now another realm had joined their number.

All because the being who had inhabited it had finally awakened and set his sights upon the Origin.