Return of the Fallen Volume 12 Chapter 141
The dark energy within this space began to rise and swirl sending a chilling effect down Kazuki’s spine. The pressure was not something one could easily resist. The other Gods felt a blunt force drill into their bodies and souls and had to resist it with nearly all of their power or suffer the torture ing effects and risk their souls being completely destroyed.
This Artificial Origin energy was far too dangerous to handle without massive preparation and power. A normal God would easily be overwhelmed by it. Kazuki though was still able to hold on with not too much difficulty. He had already devoured a great deal of this fake dark energy and his body had almost entirely acclimated to its hostile properties.
His 2 million years trapped inside his soul world were not wasted and were bearing fruit.
The Artifact watched this with frustration before finally it stopped circulating the fake Origin energy and ceased its onslaught.
“You are clever Kazuki. It didn’t take long at all for you to see through my actions. Yes, I did not fix you out of kindness. I saved you to use you. Long ago, the Supreme One was a being of infinite selfishness and driven by its own self-interest. Arc had no desire for things like friendship. It held zero attachments and no relationships of any kind. Back then, it would destroy anything and everything if it could ease its boredom. Now it’s different, I can sense it. Arc used to have not a single weakness but now, a great shift has manifested for all to see. Arc cares about you.”
“LIES! I have no interest in this human. He is a mere tool for me to use when and where I wish. All to fulfill my goal. Kazuki has always been that and nothing more, he is of no importance.”
Arc shouted in denial but the Black gate Artifact was not buying it.
“Arc…your acting is weak and your lies are less than thin. Just as you and Kazuki witnessed my memories, I too have already seen both of yours. More than that though, you and I were a part of one long ago. The moment you came into contact with me, I experienced all of your senses. Kazuki is the one being in all the cosmos you trust the most. He is an ally who you have gone through life and death with. He is the only one in the entire Universe that you can call a friend. How funny or maybe sick, twisted, and cruel one could say. To think someone like you can actually care about something other than yourself.”
Arc didn’t know what to say to all of this. After what Arc has seen and experienced, it was no longer the same cold being. Sure there were still many layers of frost beneath the surface but there was a true qualitative change. It did not like to admit such things but it was true, Kazuki was its one and only friend. Before that though it had done something unforgivable to the Black gate.
Arc had played with it like a toy and treated it like it was less than dirt. Arc watched on as the Black gate suffered and was tormented oh so long ago. Arc could have stepped in at any time, It had infinite powers back then and could have reshaped the Universe in a way to help and protect. Instead, Arc used its powers for mere fun and allowed chaos to reign.
In the end, again, it could only try and apologize to the Black Gate Artiffact.
Before Arc could say anything though, the Black gate stopped it.
“If you are just going to speak more nonsense or apologize then just don’t. Nothing you can say will change what is about to occur. I will give you one chance, one moment to do what is right. A single act of selflessness. Option one, you lower your defense, turn over what’s left of your Origin energy, and fuse with me. Option two. I rip Kazuki apart inch by inch. I squeeze his soul and tear away at it painfully. I put your one and only friend through the most agonizing pain he’s ever felt and I do it nice and slow.”
Arc was frozen. If it gave away what little Oriing energy it had left, it would have absolutely no way to defend itself. The Black gate would then swoop down upon it and forcefully take control of it anyway. Once this happens, all of its techniques and abilities would then belong to the Black gate and the Universe would be wiped away like sand on a beach.
“Are you actually hesitating? Maybe I was wrong, maybe you really haven’t changed.”
The Black gate turned back to Kazuki. The body of a man formed around the Black gate Artifact. It was the same man from the memories. His face was not one of anger or rage but of a man who was worn and exhausted by the years. Though he was immortal, he still kept wrinkles on his face as if his power reflected his mental state subconsciously.
“Look at my face Arc. This was my final straw. The name attached to this face was Belux. When I returned from war, I found that I had lost my wife and child of that life, maybe because that life was my snapping point that I recall them the most out of all my other reincarnations. Before I planned my revenge, I still had hope to recover their souls. At the very least I wanted to bring them back and live with them once again. That though was not something you wished. Even after our deal, you still had more power than necessary and with it, you made sure my wife and child would never be able to return. It was then that something inside of me broke and I knew I had to get rid of you permanently. It doesn’t matter who you are now, the fact remains, you are the most evil being in the Universe. You are a plague on this Realm and all others. Finally, after all of this time, I have you absolutely cornered. There is no escape, no running, today is your end. Just accept it. I am already tired as well. After I finish it all, I will join you in the void of no return. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
Arc was genuinely wavering and Kazuki could sense it through their connection.
“What about Kazuki and his family…Will you…Will you keep them in this new Universe of yours? Will you make sure they aren’t harmed?”
Belux shook his head.
“For the ones, he’s close to, I could easily leave them unaffected by all of this. With your power, I could literally pluck them out of this Universe, destroy it, create a new one, and place them back safely. Kazuki though is a different story. You see, When you fuse with me, n order to use the absolute might to make a new Universe I can’t have anything go wrong. There can not be even a single piece out of place. To make sure everything goes perfectly, I need every last piece.”
Arc and Kazuki both realized what Belux meant instantly.
Arc for the first time since rediscovering these memories roared in anger.
“NOOOO! YOU CANNOT HAVE IT!”
Belux shook his head.
“This is how I know you really care about Kazuki. After all, you would not have given him a fragment of yourself if you didn’t care. Unfortunately, it is this fragment that I need. Kazuki, this won’t be the end of you, I promise. I will recover all that I can and give you a new life in my new Universe. There’s nothing to fear or dread.”
Kazuki’s heart skipped a beat. The fragment of artifact that Arc gave to Kazuki fused with him. It was no longer a singular piece that could be taken away as if it were nothing. It was a part of him true and true. One could not simply remove something so integral. To take something like that would destroy Kazkui. Before when he had soul damage, he was slowly losing his power. Eventually, his soul would have fallen apart. This was something similar.
If this fragment was somehow unintegrated from him, Kazuki would no longer be Kazuki but something else entirely before eventually his entire being would fall apart.
Arc continued to protest and the small amount of Origin energy within it began to rise.
Belux sighed.
“Are you really going to fight until the end? You seem to be misunderstanding something here. Even if you fight, even if you use the remainder of your Origin energy, it will make no difference in the end. You will destroy some of me but not all and not nearly enough to do anything of consequence. Instead, once you use that power, I will easily be able to take control over you. The only annoying thing will be the time it takes me to recover enough power to finally remake the Universe in my image. The only thing you do by fighting is delaying me by a few billion years. Take the path of least resistance. Accept your fate and do one single right thing in your entire life. It’s that or like I said, I destroy Kazuki slowly and painfully before taking what I need from him anyway. Now…DECIDE!”
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