Will of chaos

Chapter 1958: Cap 1954: Everything has its price…

Pov Urd:

I simply couldn’t believe what I was seeing and feeling. I was terrified, an impossible-to-repress fear taking over me, slowing my thinking, making my body hesitate, and dulling my senses.

I thought the worst was over, like Mavor’s death and Vecna’s disappearance. All the Ascended still alive were with me now, those faithful to the Ascended cause undergoing rebirth, both in body and through the Ascended Law and Soul.

All the defects the Ascended carried are repaired as their Laws harmonize with nature. Their increasingly fragile Souls are restored to Divine Souls, and their bodies, along with their personalities, are reborn as completely new beings—not as the Ancient Ascended, but as the new Divine Ascended, true Ascended gods.

Even if I failed to save the population of this Universe, I could still reach their Souls if Zenos succeeded in his conquest. Then both this universe and all others conquered by the Ascended could be repaired throughout our efforts to atone for what had been accomplished. This was the least that could be done, and it could be the beginning of a new creed for the Ascended.

But now, the universe was collapsing. I still didn’t control this inverse universe. I control the Ascended Laws and the Flow of Laws. But the universe, like its planets, are artificial constructs, unnatural, lacking life, spirituality, and their own Wills, needing to be refined step by step, which was impossible to achieve during this struggle between the forces of these various Entities.

I thought we had a good chance of winning, but those chances won’t matter if this universe collapses. I can’t allow that. Without the central universe, the Star Network will fall apart, and our contact with the other universes will be lost.

The universes further out, supported only by the Universal Grid, will be shattered immediately. Those already showing the first signs of collapse will truly begin to collapse. Those closest to this universe, which are also the oldest to be conquered, will lose their anchors since their Universal Cores are here. These are universes that, like this one, were artificially reconstructed, losing their spirituality.

All of this would be a loss of 58% of all universes, the loss of countless lives of a population that has only known the absolute control of the Ascended. Everything that had been done for thousands of years could never be even remotely redeemed. I couldn’t accept this, I couldn’t bear this when I finally thought I had the chance to do something good for the Ascended.

I knew the Twins needed me, I knew there was an army of enemies around us, and two more than difficult enemies, but even so, I couldn’t let the universe explode.

I step away from the fight, letting my consciousness wander through the Flow of Laws. I use and strengthen this flow as I extend it further toward the center.

“< Summon >” (me)

I wave my hand, and a portal appears, dragging 89 toward me. I don’t explain anything to him, I don’t say anything, and I just grab his head as time seems to pass at a faster rate for both of us. He doesn’t even try to resist, and from his Aura, he seems to be beginning to understand what’s happening.

I use their power to create new branches of the Flow of Laws. I didn’t just want to cover this entire universe, I also wanted to strengthen the Universal Network.

When I open my eyes again, I notice that the Avatar of Hatred and the woman from the statuette have disappeared. Zenos has an exhausted expression as he attacks the ghostly creature that has been sucked somewhere, disappearing.

None of this was my priority, in fact it just showed that we had the advantage and my presence wasn’t missed, which was a relief for me.

I quickly looked around, seeing that the collapse had stopped progressing. I could feel the Law Flows taking over the space and beginning to repair the cracks. Unfortunately, the same wasn’t happening with the Spatial Rifts through which the Abyss Creatures were pouring in like a burst dam.

“Ma’am…” (89)

“Huh!?” (me)

I looked between my hands and saw 89’s golden blood leaking from his haggard eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

His Aura was weaker, and his seven pairs of wings were dull. I could feel his energy drained, his Aura also weakened, but at least his life wasn’t in danger.

“Sorry, but we don’t have time.” (me)

“I know…” (89)

My power invaded his body, his energy immediately recovering as his body also prepared to bear the weight of what was to come.

“Visualize an Artifact, not to kill or defend, but to heal and repair all Laws. I need you for this.” (me)

“< Divine Law: Talisman of the Forge >” (me)

I pour all my power into my forehead. The talisman forms immediately, a mass of Divinity and the ruler of the Law so intense that space itself can barely bear its presence.

This talisman floats toward 89, sinking into his body, which transforms into a transparent silhouette. Two flames emerge from his body, transforming his body into a perfect form.

Lena had taught me this method of creating Origin Artifacts, but it was to be done later in the future, when I was more mature in the way I manipulate my Concept, and also when 89 was more prepared to fulfill its function.

Now, none of these things were possible. We didn’t have time, and I couldn’t stop controlling the Flow of Laws for even a second. I couldn’t participate in the combat, not even for a second, between the creatures of the Abyss or anyone else.

But I knew that only I, 89, and Zenos could close these Rifts. Only the power of the Laws could do it, and in this place, only the three of us had the necessary ability.

Zenos was unable to do it, and 89 was already at his limit. I needed to focus on the flow of Laws myself, so all that was left was to ask someone else to do it, and for that, I needed a tool capable of accomplishing what I couldn’t do alone.

———————-

Pov Pride:

I was seeing the General of the Abyss. His size was large, and more than half of his body had already passed through. But it wasn’t him who mattered, but the one hiding behind him, who, under my gaze, was advancing forward, a little distant from me.

“Why lure them here?” (me)

“Did you think we wouldn’t notice what you did?” (Iranna)

“I didn’t do anything to eradicate the Ascended.” (me)

“Stick with your half-truths; we both know this is all just to hide your true purpose.” (Iranna)

She looked like a red-haired elf. Her body was pale white, with straight lines and angular curves extending across her body. The gray energy horns on her forehead weren’t of a normal type of energy, but made of pure Reality power.

Her clothes were light armor with a translucent cloak over them. Her golden eyes were as sharp as I remembered, but her presence had changed greatly, becoming more tyrannical. Still, something was missing.

“Retreat. Don’t force me to start the fight now.” (me)

“The battle has already begun. Just as you made your move, so did we, long ago. You should have joined them…” (Iranna)

“Don’t try to talk to me as if you know me, child…” (Pride)

“I existed before your race, and I will exist after your race disappears.” (Pride)

“Fulfill your role as messenger and step aside until I shatter your Soul.” (Pride)

“Very well, as was made clear, I came to tell you of our arrival. Creation can no longer keep us all apart, not when the Abyss awakens.” (Iranna)

“Wait… it doesn’t make sense, unless…” (Me)

I look back to where the Bringer of Chaos lay unconscious, and a thought comes to mind, a horrible thought.

I reach out and use my Aura to drag her body until my hand is around her neck in a tight grip.

“You’re crazy! This puts even you at risk!” (me)

“A price to pay to return…” (Iranna)

Crack

“But you haven’t returned yet.” (me)

“(Another farce.)” (me)

I grip the neck to devastate the body and grab directly at its Soul, but as soon as I tighten my grip, the entire body shatters, revealing only a metallic triangle inside that crumbles into dust.

“I thought I was getting ahead of myself, but it seems I’m late.” (me)

“War, you heard it too.” (me)

Suddenly, the Avatar of War appears, his body covered in a flaming Aura and a murderous intent that could devastate entire universes.

“You manipulated me, Pride.” (War)

“I didn’t need to, you and Hatred were already here. I just had to convince the Merchant and lure Greed. The Bringer of Chaos would come sooner or later with Davoth at his side.” (Me)

“Things won’t go your way. Paradox is unpredictable.” (War)

“But she is our hope, our only chance to truly fight.” (Me)

“Your pride will lead to failure. Don’t try to predict what will result from Chaos.” (War)

War disappears, but I look at the Colossus trying to invade. I wanted to intervene, but Ronan isn’t your mother; your ability to use my Concept is still lacking.

“Sorry, son of Ohara… but you can’t know about this yet.” (Me)

Before disappearing from your body, I take your memories to a safe place, already obscured. There are things one shouldn’t know without sufficient ability.

———————

Pov Lena:

I look at Zenos’s condition. His body was almost devastated, but the worst things were his mind and Soul. His mind was completely wiped out, and I don’t know if he can recover. It seems this energy is doing that. His Soul is still bearing a heavy burden. His situation won’t improve as long as his Divine Beasts are still with him, and in this state, I can’t intervene to separate them.

“Callidora, you broke your promise to him again.” (Me)

“It doesn’t matter. I saved your asses by taking care of Hate, and I also found something to appease Zenos.” (Callidora)

“There’s no price that can compensate for you putting Niryna at risk.” (Cortana)

“Everything has a price~…” (Callidora)