Return of the Fallen Volume 12 Chapter 140
“You…The reason your saying all of this is because you can’t do this alone. You want Arc to willingly surrender itself over and become a part of you, don’t you?”
Kazuki used his understanding of the Black gate Artifacts memories to pinpoint the problem. After all, they were perfectly within the treasure Artifact’s hands. There was no point in it revealing anything whatsoever. It should have been able to do whatever it wished instead of explaining this or that but it didn’t reset the Universe. It was as if it were dragging its heels or trying to persuade those around it.
The Black gate Artifact didn’t deny it, actually, it was quite upfront about the whole thing and said.
“Correct. My power is something beyond most comprehension but to destroy this Universe and create a new one…That is something out of even my reach. However, that would change with one simple move. Arc…I need what you have. I need your abilities locked away within you. Combining them with my own power and my Artificial Origin energy, I can fix it, I can fix everyone and everything. Once I reforge the Universe with my own making, there will no longer be sadness or suffering. No one will know the harms of an empty stomach nor the horrors of war. No more injuries and no more death. The Universe will be a paradise for the small and weak as well as the big and strong. No more hatred and no more will anyone ever have to go through what I went through.”
Was it wrong to wish for peace? Was it wrong to no longer want others to not starve and to live a good life free of danger and illness and injury?
The way the Black gate put it, it could only be selfish to not want such things and many here knew this but at the same time, who were these people? They were Gods. Beings of eminence power who could have immortal lives. They did not have problems like those in Lower Realms. When they fought, it was not because a king made them, but rather because of their own greedy desires and wishes.
They need not drink or eat or breathe. The only injury they couldn’t heal for the most part was one related to their souls. They could go practically anywhere and do almost anything. If there was such a thing as paradise, these Gods for the most part were living it. So to them, the Black gate’s words basically fell on deaf ears. They need nothing it offered and instead, the Black gate’s so-called reset would take everything from them.
The 10’s of millions if not hundreds of millions of years it took them to reach Godhood would be all for naught. The universal laws they came to comprehend and reaching Divine Enlightenment, all of it would go to waste. Unlocking a Universal Law of truth, it would be for nothing.
All of their strength and power, their entire lives would simply be gone and it would be as if they never existed in the first place. In what Universe would this ever be acceptable? To them, to lose everything was in a way far worse than death.
As these Gods were in a panic, in front of this cataclysmic path, Kazuki couldn’t help but laugh.
*Heh*
*Hehehahaha*
“BULLSHIT!”
Everyone went silent and several of them thought Kauzki had finally snapped and gone insane.
The Black gate Artifact did not expect this response from Kazuki.
“Bullshit, you say. Why are my words bullshit in your eyes? I have seen your past Kazuki just as you have seen mine. You of all people should be craving this with an obsession. You who lost the women you loved and your unborn child. You who lost your older brother before you were even a man. You who lost your Father and mother before you could even crawl. Tortured in the dark abyssal trench and swallowed by a monster, dissolved, starved, beaten, and bruised time and time again. Soul rendered and ripped, life drained and mind shattered. Out of all these beings, you and I have experienced many similarities. You in one life, and me throughout many others. I know what that does to a soul after many lifetimes yet you had all that cruelty crushed upon you in a single one.”
The Artifact flew toward Gardius and swept him up in its power. The Black gate Artifact put Gardius on display in front of everyone.
“This man here nearly took your life earlier. Had I not put you back together the moment he struck you, your existence would already be no more. Instead, when you reached forth to grab me, It was I who put you back together piece by piece. Gardius wanted to kill you and for what reason exactly? It was so he could obtain me. Another source of power to hold above others and rule with impunity. With his ring, Gardius is one of the most powerful Gods in existence. A Supreme God not to be looked down upon. Even without his ring, he is still well above many Gods. He could live a life beyond most but instead, his greed moves him to obtain more and more and more. You’re telling me you wish to be a part of a Universe where life is considered nothing in the eyes of others. Where it is worth so little. A place where you would no longer exist had I not stepped in, the very same Universe where evils were thrust upon you and all the good in your life has been taken. This version is better than what I am attempting, really? Tell me, who is it exactly that’s spouting bullshit here, me or you?”
The Artifact’s words were compelling. No, more than that, they were convincing or they would be if Kazuki were normal but something like normal disappeared from him long ago.
“Your right. Your ideal universe, your paradise does sound incredible but in reality, it is just an illusion.”
The Black gate Artifact tossed Gardius aside with a mere thought before approaching Kazuki.
“Care to explain such a loose statement? In what way is my ideal Universe an illusion.”
“A universe without hatred, how can someone know of love without hate in some form or another? When you take away fears, hatred, rejection, and sadness, how would one know of the opposite? Do you believe emotions are set in stone or are they affected by those around them and their environments? If there is no darkness, how would one recognize light? What you’re proposing is not a paradise but instead a hellscape. Do you not care about the natural flow of nature, everything you are saying goes against it. If I am never sad, how would I understand or appreciate happiness? I have lost many things in this life. Because I have lost so much, I can truly understand what loss means.”
While Kazuki was explaining this, something was slowly creeping through the darkness. It was none other than his enemy the shadow. While everyone was being suppressed and chained down by the Artifact’s dark artificial Origin energy, the shadow had remained in hiding. Kazuki could sense the Shadow the entire time. If Gardius still had his ring, he too would be able to sense the Shadow roaming about.
While everyone else was in a panic, Kazuki saw an opportunity and he began to converse with the shadow while simultaneously speaking with the Artifact.
“There are still those who remain in this Universe. Those that I still care for and would sacrifice everything I have left, every ounce and every piece of myself in order to keep them alive, safe, and happy.”
The image of Mei and Kosaru popped into his head along with his uncle Lin and aunt Alutra. The faces of his friends appeared one by one and as well. Even though many things were taken away from him in this life, he still had those that he loved with all his heart and soul.
“Your Universe does not have those I care about, it only has your idea of perfect. In the end, it just sounds like a place filled with mindless drones deprived of emotion and thought. None of this matters though now does it.”
Kazuki’s tone began to change toward the end.
“While you talk about paradise isn’t the way to get there rather despicable. Take me for example. You saved my life but you did not do it because out of kindness. No, I couldn’t figure it out earlier. You saw my memories and should know what I am capable of. Keeping me should be pointless that’s when it clicked. I can now see through your nefarious plot. You need Arc to willing fuse with you so you can obtain Arc’s abilities. With all of your power, you should be able to just take control of Arc but you can’t. It seems even with all of this Artificial Origin energy, it still falls in comparison to the genuine article. You can’t take control of Arc so long as Arc has even the tiniest amount of real Origin energy. You didn’t save me because you have a heart but rather because you have a cold calculating void inside. You saved me to use me as a hostage and force Arc’s hand…Didn’t you!”
The dark energy all around began to swirl and twist as the Black gate Artifact’s thoughts were seen through by Kazuki.
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