Will of chaos

“I hope it works…” (me)

I close my eyes to meditate. This time it wasn’t to think about that soul in the coffin, nor was it to think about Ayden or other worries. It was simply to internalize everything I learned in this training, to recover the sensation I felt at a specific moment.

Soon I can feel it; my aura moves by pure instinct, taking my will to a deep corner, not within my soul, but deeper than that, within my existential spark, which seemed like an endless, burning universe.

The dragon didn’t stop until it penetrated the ethereal flames of existence, and that’s when I encountered what lay beneath. It was the same vision I experienced before: a floor that looked like a mirror reflecting unknown stars and planets in the sky, with the only difference being a silhouette slowly rotating among these planets in a fetal position—a feminine silhouette emanating a strange presence.

“(Why are you here, Zenos…)” (Paradox)

“Aren’t you going to ask how I found you?” (me)

“(You should have found me a long time ago, I’ve been here since the seal was completely broken.)” (Paradox)

“Wait a minute… so you haven’t always been here!?” (me)

“(My seal was that of non-existence, I wasn’t anywhere and at the same time I was everywhere.)” (Paradox)

“(The breaking of the seal made me come into existence, but my state, as you see it, isn’t good enough to show me.)” (Paradox)

“(I’m using your Existential Flame to conceal my presence until I’m ready.)” (Paradox)

I didn’t expect this, I thought she’d been here from the beginning, but it seems she had everything planned, her tone of voice was strange too, her presence even stranger.

“Which one of the two are you?” (Me)

“(Foolish question when you made the choice.)” (Paradox)

“Making the choice doesn’t mean knowing the result, the practice of something often different from the theoretical intention.” (Me)

“(No need to make excuses, I know you don’t trust me.)” (Paradox)

“…” (Me)

There’s no way I can trust such an eternal entity, someone so unstable that she needed to seal herself away and whose intentions are unknown to me.

To fully believe the things I heard from her would be foolish, but if it were true, it would also be difficult not to try to awaken her. Regardless of what I chose, something would leave a bitter taste in my mouth, so I was torn between cowardice and boldness about how to act.

In the end, I decided to trust her, partly because of her constant help. She hasn’t done anything to deserve my distrust, besides her existence being completely suspicious.

“(Hahahahahhaha!!!!)” (Paradox)

Her laughter didn’t seem to come from the floating silhouette; in fact, it seemed to sound directly from my mind.

I also noticed that all the stars shone more intensely in rhythm with her laughter.

“(Soon you will let go of your suspicions; when I wake up, I will be connected to you just like your Saint.)” (Paradox)

“Wasn’t that what you promised?” (me)

“(It will be similar, not the same.)” (Paradox)

“(I cannot become your Avatar if you don’t transcend into an Entity.)” (Paradox)

“Shouldn’t I become an Entity as soon as you wake up?” (Me)

“(No, that would be impossible since all the Chaos within me is being removed, refined, and transformed before returning to me, rebuilding my Body, Mind, and Soul.)” (Paradox)

“(My Aura, Will, and Mind have already been rebuilt, leaving what you see now.)” (Paradox)

“How long until your Soul and Body are complete?” (Me)

“(6 days…)” (Paradox)

“I suppose you know what’s going on, don’t you?” (me)

“(No, my concentration has been entirely focused on myself.)” (Paradox)

“Then I’ll explain everything to you.” (me)

Since she doesn’t know, I told her about my confrontation with War, and also explained the participants I chose for this confrontation, briefly summarizing each one.

“(I don’t mind participating, but don’t expect me to be powerful.)” (Paradox)

“What do you mean by that?” (me)

“(Thanks to you, I managed to achieve my desire for freedom, my Concept was broken and is being remade by refining it with your power, I will no longer have the power of an Entity, in fact I don’t even know what my power level will be when I rise.)” (Paradox)

“You say that, but your power won’t fall lower than a God’s.” (Me)

“(I have no way of knowing.)” (Paradox)

“…” (Me)

I put my hand to my head, thinking about the horrible possibility that she’s not ready to fight, but I can’t lose her. I also don’t believe she’ll become too weak, especially because of our connection.

“Stop trying to provoke me, I know your strength won’t disappoint.” (Me)

“But I want to know about your mind, which of the two is still there?” (Me)

“(Both are me, and now we are one again, not as before, but as a new me. That was your choice.)” (Paradox)

“Will you be able to fight when you get out?” (Me)

“(Certainly not, but that doesn’t matter, does it?)” (Paradox)

“(As long as my power is linked to Chaos, there is no one, not even you, who understands it as comprehensively or deeply as I do.)” (Paradox)

Something was strange; she wasn’t trying to refuse to participate in this confrontation, nor was she trying to advise me. Something was different; it seemed she was trying to test me, but for what?

“What are you plotting?” (Me)

“You won’t resist participating in the confrontation, and in a way, you seem excited, not to mention your tone of voice is strange.” (Me)

“Tell me! What are you plotting!?” (Me)

“(I’m not plotting anything, I don’t need that when you simply bring everything I need~…)” (Paradox)

“Paradox…” (Me)

“(You don’t need to fear me, I just find Guerra’s actions too convenient.)” (Paradox)

“(Remember, Guerra always achieves his goal.)” (Paradox)

“What are you…” (Me)

Suddenly her figure pulses and I’m pushed out, returning to reality. Then I realize my body is covered in sweat and my hand is trembling with weakness.

“She absorbed my Concept…” (Me)

“Damn it!” (Me)

I try to meditate and feel my body. It seems everything is fine; I’m just tired. My new heart is also beating at a faster pace while a great amount of power flows through my new energy cycle, replenishing what was missing.

*Sigh*

“I feel better…” (me)

I stood up and looked at my hand, feeling my strength return to normal. I’ll take a shower and change my clothes, something that isn’t necessary since I can cleanse myself using my power, but a shower still helps me relax once in a while.

———————-

1 hour later.

I was now facing Urak. I came here to settle things with her, but I didn’t expect to find Urd here.

“Urd, I hope you’re not trying to change my mind again.” (me)

“No, actually… I was already leaving.” (Urd)

“…” (me)

“…” (Urak)

I see Urd open her wings and disappear without a trace. Urak, in her new form, was standing in front of me, but her eyes were fixed on the direction Urd disappeared.

“Did she tell you everything?” (me)

“Yes, I have nothing against participating.” (Urak)

“That’s good, because I need you there.” (me)

I look at her, I see determination, but also doubt and hesitation; it seems something was thinking in her mind.

“Just say what you want?” (me)

“…” (Urak)

“Stop with that idiotic look and say what you need…” (me)

“Hana…!!!!!!!” (Urak)

Before she could continue speaking, the entire space she had created in this room was already burning, her own body surrounded by Star Swords created from my power, awaiting only my permission to tear her to pieces.

“Where did you hear this name?” (me)

“I saw it in my mind… ever since you made contact with her.” (Urak)

“…” (me)

She wasn’t lying, I could feel it, but her words didn’t make sense. I wouldn’t allow her to see any of this, and even then it wouldn’t make sense for her to know that name. I spoke to few people about it, and none of them would tell her that name.

“(The Laws…)” (me)

I focus the Concept in my eyes and try to see deeper within Urak. Soon I see the book she carries; it was imprinted with the Celestial Law. I could also feel my Eclipse Law power within it, actually serving as the core while the Celestial Law served as the structure.

“(An echo, probably due to the curse.)” (me)

The curse I placed on her was associated with mothers, and it’s not completely under my control either, because of Lena’s help in creating this curse.

Snap

“Don’t talk about her, this is my business and mine alone!” (me)

“I understand…” (Urak)

I didn’t want to talk about her, and even less so with someone like Urak, since both of them are the worst in terms of mothers, it’s almost funny.

I snap my fingers and all the star swords, as well as the flames my power created, disappear, freeing her, but it doesn’t seem like I scared her.

“You need to train… and I…” (me)

“I can still see her, I know I shouldn’t talk about her, but I can still see her and I feel like she’s starting to feel me too.” (Urak)

“…” (me)