Return of the Fallen Volume 12 Chapter 138
“Your friend you say…now that is quite interesting.”
The Artifact’s words dripped with mockery. Kazuki did not really care though, he simply needed to buy more time so he could figure out how to escape. To keep him talking he played into the Artifact’s sense of mockery.
“And what is that supposed to mean exactly? Do you find something wrong with me calling Arc a friend?”
While Kazuki spoke to the treasure, he also communicated telepathically to the other Supreme Gods and he told them to look for any way to escape or form any type of plan. They all understood how dire things truly were. None of them could move under this dark suppressive power, even just trying to activate their Divine energy brought a brutal unrelenting pain to their bodies and souls.
The Artifact observed the Supreme Gods and laughed.
“Your struggles are pitiful and unwise. Under my power, none of you can escape and if you continue down this worthless path, your suffering will be eternal, I guarantee it.”
Kazuki felt a chill run down his spine as he recalled the strange memories he had witnessed earlier. The Supreme one that controlled the man also made him suffer for countless lifetimes. Kazuki had suffered more than most in a single lifetime, he couldn’t imagine what that man was burdened with.
“Why is it you enjoy torturing so much? Not just here and now but back then as well. That poor man you used like a toy and ran through a nightmarish hell over and over again. The loss and pain he had to take repeatedly while you watched like a puppeteer enjoying a grand show. I don’t know what you plan to do but if it’s anything like what you did to that man, your better off killing us all here and now.”
All eyes fell on Kazuki and disbelief spread among these Gods. By his own words, Kazuki was provoking the Artifact trying to send them to the depths of doom that much quicker.
Only a few recognized what Kazuki was really trying to do. The wise ones knew by the Artifact’s own admission, it was not ready to kill them all…yet. So by provoking the Artifact in actuality, he was slowing the Artifact’s plans by throwing words that would seemingly get a rise out of this thing.
The more the Artifact talked the longer they all lived.
However, what Kazuki did not expect, nor anyone else who was just barely following the conversation, the Artifact, said something strange.
“Kazuki…Who is it do you think I am?”
This question confused Kazuki. He had just seen Arc’s memories through the connection. Arc was obviously the tortured man while this Artifact was the so-called Supreme one. The way the Artifact said this though left Kazuki with furrowed brows. With a condescending tone, Kazuki dug in deeper.
“You are the Almighty, the eternal and infinite. The invincible everlasting. You are above all and everything and everyone else is below you. You are the Supreme One right? Did you wish for me to praise you? Just how disturbed is your ego?”
…
The Artifact went silent before flying only a few inches away from Kazuki’s face.
Kazuki felt inklings of fear as he recalled what the Supreme One could do. In Arc’s memories, it had been able to read minds. As the Artifact floated silently in front of him, Kazuki wondered if this thing could see right through him. He wondered if every thought, feeling and emotion was exposed and out in the open like a tender nerve.
(Can it see my mind? Does it know my thoughts?)
As this silence seemed to drag, Kazuki began to calm rather quickly.
(No, maybe back then this thing could read minds but if it really still could, I and the others would already be in a dream state under this thing’s full control. Arc as well lost many powers it once had. This thing must have lost even more with its current state. Otherwise, why would it even need Arc back.)
Kazuki’s fear remained high but there was still hope left. This Artifact had obviously been weakened after all this time and lost many powers, otherwise, why would it use the fake dark Origin energy? Why would it purposely send clues and leave traces behind inside of other Gods and let them escape as it had done with his servant the archer called Fleck?
Kazuki did not have all of the memories as he was snapped awake before he could see them all but just before he awoke, the man was planning something. He had persuaded the Supreme One to not use his omnipotence nor his mind-reading ability to make things more entertaining.
(Whatever happened back then, it’s possible that moment led to the Supreme One losing many abilities. Arc is incredible. Whatever it did, it managed to trick this Supreme One and escape the cycle of reincarnation.)
As Kazuki thought this, a horror was revealed. Something that left him absolutely shocked.
“From what you’ve said, I understand now why you sympathize with Arc but you have something extremely incorrect here. How funny, after all this time, after all I have done. It would be me, that is being mistaken as the monster. No Kazuki, I am not the Supreme One. I am not the infinite, nor the almighty. I am the never-ending, everlasting. Before all of this started, I was simply a man trapped in a vicious cycle. All to entertain a singular being of ultimate power. I was the puppet and Arc as you now call him was the puller of strings. Arc was the Supreme One, not I.”
These words were like an explosion setting off inside of Kazuki. Something louder than any real noise he had ever heard in his entire life. His head buzzed as if he had been struck in the head with a massive force.
(This…why would this Artifact say this?)
Kazuki was clever and cunning. His mind worked in ways most could not dream of but even he could not wrap his head around this statement by the Artifact.
(What is this? Why tell such an obvious lie? I’ve seen the memories myself, this being is clearly the Supreme one and Arc is the man…Right?)
Kazuki could not see through this plot whatever it was. He couldn’t understand why the Artifact would say something so preposterous. Before Kazuki could even respond to this, the Artifact continued.
“Why do you think Arc has been silent all this time? Yes I have been suppressing Arc to some degree but I can sense it, Arc has a small amount of Origin energy within. With a bit of resistance Arc could break free of my hold but it’s chosen to stay silent all this time.”
“Arc knows about this?”
“The moment you came into contact with this black pyramid, that was the very same moment we reconnected so to speak. Arc knows and has chosen to keep quiet even now. Believe me or don’t. In the end, for what reason do I have to lie when I hold all the cards? You cannot escape me with my dark, fake Origin energy as you would say, suppresses your powers. I watched your entire fight with Gardius. Of everyone here, he is the most powerful yet even he cannot leave without my say-so. With this much control, for what reason do I even need to lie to you? If you really don’t trust my words, why not hear it directly from the individual themself?”
The hollowed Artifatc jewel glowed momentarily and Kauzki felt a clear connection unseal between he and Arc. Not just Arc but he felt his connection to Codex and Sword was reestablished as well.
He thought he would hear immediately from Codex or even Sword if Arc didn’t respond right away but even they remained silent.
(Why would Codex and Sword remain quiet as well…Unless…do they already know this as well. Is this actually true!?)
Kazuki couldn’t help but look down at the ring around his finger. Arc remained quiet during all of this.
“Arc…”
Arc remained silent and did not respond to Kazuki’s call.
The Artifact treasure seemed to grow impatient and its calm demeanor once more slipped.
“Arc, after seeing the past, you know what you’ve done and you know what you are. You cannot play innocent just because your memories are fresh. Tell him…tell this man the truth and claim your crimes against me, against this universe. It’s the least you can do after all of your sick perversions and manipulations. Now…Tell him.”
Arc still remained quiet which caused the Artifact to snap a sit roared in fury.
“ARC! YOU KNOW WHAT I PLAN TO DO! REVEAL IT OR I SHALL KILL THIS MAN HERE AND NOW! ARE YOU NOT HIS FRIEND!?”
The artifact laughed before his dark power warped into a single purplish black dagger. Kazuki sensed a shift in the power of this place as a force unimaginable was imbued within this dagger.
Without hesitation, this dagger flew directly at Kazuki’s forehead with frightening speed. Just before it pierced Kazuki’s head and destroyed his Soul world and body in one thrust. Arc shouted pitifully.
“STOP!”
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