Return of the Fallen Volume 12 Chapter 4
(The choice…You already made it long ago, haven’t you Kazuki.)
Kazuki knew Codex was right. The fact that he still existed, there was no way he could give up revenge knowing there was still a chance. He could not let it go, even if he wanted to. Maybe that made him a slave to the past but he did not care. He would do whatever it takes to see his path to the end.
(Your speech is…very irritating. I get it, you know humans oh so well and my choice isn’t really a choice but something in my nature. Maybe that is so but even if it is, is that really so bad? No, even if it is, this is what I must do. So can we cut the shit and just get to it. My word, my promise is not enough for you now. So what is it you wish of me exactly? What can I do to prove that I will fulfill the promise I have made to you and Sword?)
Codex floated toward a few soul fragments that were slowly trying to fuse back together.
(Not much. In order t make sure you do not betray our trust, you will need to give us something of yours. Something in which you hold absolute value in. Something you won’t betray nor can betray. We wish to have a piece of your soul.)
These words called coldly within Kauzki’s consciousness and he felt the weight of them deeply.
(With a piece of your soul, your betrayal would mean extinction. Two artifacts holding a piece of your soul hostage, even Arc would not be able to stop us from destroying you if you choose to break our agreement. It took us eons to cripple Kori but that was because he was a God. You who are a mere Demigod, if you do not keep your word, I and Sword could obliterate you in your entirety with a mere thought. So Kazuki, what will
(I’ll do it.)
Codex was stunned. Kazuki had answered with zero hesitation. Its words stumbled a bit as it tried to grasp the situation.
(Wait really, just like that? No fear, no questioning. You just accept it with ease.)
If Kazuki had a head right now he would be shaking it.
(There is nothing easy about it. I just see reality with unclouded eyes. If I do not accept your proposal, then Arc and I will be destroyed in this Chaotic space. Even if I had to sell my soul to Devils, it is something that is necessary in order for me to keep trekking forward. At least with you two, I know your reasoning and I understand your goals. Besides what you want of me, is not something necessarily difficult nor is it vile and goes against the things I stand for. At the same time, you two realize who you are getting in bed with right? You truly will be holding my balls and I don’t wish to have them crushed. If things really take a turn and it is you who betray me. I swear upon all the realms and all the worlds they hold, I will break those who step over my line and cast them into the void. Are we clear?)
Codex went quiet for a moment before responding back.
(We have an understanding. We will not cross this so-called line and you will not betray us. We will hold a piece of your soul internally and in return, we will help protect you from the outside destruction of this Chaotic space.)
Codex extended a tendril of energy and took hold of a fragment of Kazuki’s soul. With it, Sword floated forward and Codex took the fragment and slammed it into Sword. Kazuki felt a sharp pain in his consciousness and half a second later an ancient symbol formed on the base of Sword before it faded away.
When the ancient symbol faded, so too did the pain and Kazuki felt a faint connection to the heavy sword. He wondered what this connection meant when there was another explosion outside of Arc’s body.
As objects the size of Realms collided and exploded, it sent strange debris crushing over and raining down with a wave of power.
Arc shouted at Codex and Sword in annoyance.
(Since you all are done sniffing one another’s asses, hurry up and give me your power before we all suffer the consequences!)
(You really have no tact Arc…Very well a deal is a deal.)
Codex and Sword began to glow with a gentle light as Origin energy suddenly poured out of both of them. The two held nothing back and gave Arc every ounce of power. Arc could feel a small amount of power returning to itself and its body began to change shape. Ancient symbols lit up on its box body before it began to fold and bend in an odd manner. It pulsed with energy just as the outside forces came barring down upon it.
The wave of destruction had barely touched the surface when it was completely deflected away. A small glow covered the surface of Arc’s body as a barrier firmly held in place. With this, the disaster was averted.
(That was too close you slow bastards.)
(Again your language leaves something to be desired. Just be thankful we helped in the first place Arc.)
(Be thankful for you doing what should have been done without asking. Not a chance.)
Codex sighed.
(There is no winning with you is there?)
(As I said a second ago, not a chance.)
Kazuki’s quickly changed the subject before things sank lower.
(Arc, now that you have recovered some power, how long before you can get us out of here?)
Arc stifled a laugh.
(You really have no idea about our situation. I tried saying it earlier before I was so rudely interrupted by that empty book but forget it. Books are notorious for being bloated with things that don’t matter so it’s understandable with its substance-lacking nature.)
Neither Kazuki nor Codex knew what the hell Arc was talking about.
(Arc, can you just tell me? I have no clue what is going on, or where we currently are at. You who can navigate any Realm, why are you stalling to answer the question?)
Arc became quiet. Something was wrong but Kazuki did not know to what degree until Arc just came out and said it.
(I…Currently I do not know where we are.)
If Kazuki had eyes, they would be as wide as possible right now.
(You’re saying we’re lost. LOST! That makes no sense, You don’t get lost. This, is a terrible joke even for you.)
(SILENCE!…)
…
(We really are lost…you’re not joking?)
…
(We…are lost. I…I don’t understand it myself. I have never been…Anyway, it’s this place. Space and time are ever-changing in this shit hole and I can’t get a clear read of what’s up or down, let alone where or when we are. Without knowing my location, I cannot tell you where anything is and therefore, I have no clue where I would be going even if I had enough power to do so. For the time being…We are stuck inside this place.)
There was silence from the others. Only Kazuki seemed to take this harshly. Still, he remained as calm as possible.
(None of you seem surprised by this news. You all knew we were stuck?)
The heavy sword danced around while Codex just gave an honest answer.
(Yes we knew. Chaotic space is a place that none return from unless they are extremely lucky. It is something that exists specifically in the three Higher Realms. How it came to be, no one knows but it is something that keeps even Gods in check. We who are not quite Gods but are based in reality, we too are affected in similar ways to the rules of the Higher Realms. The truths and universal Laws bind all of us in some way shape or form and Chaotic space is the apotheosis of it all.)
(So there is no way of escaping whatsoever. Why then did you wish to make a deal, why did I give you a piece of my soul if we are permanently stuck here and I can never keep my promise?)
(As long as I, Arc, and Sword are not destroyed, our existences will carry through infinity. When your soul fully reforms as long as you stay inside of Arc and aren’t destroyed you too will exist for eternity. Because of this, it is merely a waiting game. I never said we would be stuck here forever we simply have to wait. Eventually, Chaotic space will tear open into one of the three Higher Realms and we can use that chance to escape.)
Kazuki found this unbelievable.
(So the plan this whole time was to wait and hope that a tear would form nearby and let us fall out into one of the three Higher Realms like a turd being shit out. The probability of that happening, it could be millions of years.)
Arc piped up.
(Actually, by my calculation the most likely scenario is it would be several hundred trillion years before a tear coincidentally opens within our range and we can actually move to it and escape through it before it closes.)
Arc said this with no emotion. For Kazuki, even without a stomach or body, these words made him want to throw up.
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