novelraw Chapter 418 - 411 - Echoing Through the Cosmos!
Chapter 418 - 411 - Echoing Through the Cosmos!
The surrounding branches visibly diminished.
Scattered motes of light filled the entire space, kicking up what looked like a miniature sandstorm around Star-Vault and Annihilation.
As the quicksand flowed, a ripple in space vibrated through the void, revealing the dilapidated ruins of a building that had fallen into the sea of sand.
Evidently, the source of the civilized ruins scattered across the red desert surrounding the Imaginary Tree was now clear... They were the remnants of Astral God-level battles that took place on the Tree, cast down here by a one-in-a-trillion chance.
"Not enough..."
"Still not enough!"
The devastation was not limited to civilizations.
Grand Monarch Star-Vault had lost half a wing. His magnificent tail, longer than his body, had completely disintegrated into particles of light. His splendid horns had vanished along with his shattered draconic head.
The Lu Xing of this moment... had been reduced to a skeletal dragon with three mangled claws and a tattered remnant of a wing.
His remaining Imaginary energy was only sufficient to maintain his skeleton; he no longer had the strength to repair his shell, sinews, or flesh. Though the surrounding Imaginary energy was dense, having expended his Paths in a single blow, he temporarily lacked even the organs to absorb it.
Annihilation's state was slightly better, but only just.
His lower body had been blown away by the energy storm. Forget the thousand arms on his back; he now had only his right arm remaining.
In contrast to Star-Vault's cracked, skeletal frame, Annihilation resembled a charred victim who had just escaped a massive fire.
But!
It was still not enough.
A victor had not yet been decided between Star-Vault and Annihilation. The two Grand Monarchs who stood at the pinnacle of the cosmos had to determine a winner here and now—
The victor would take all; the loser would scatter into dust.
"Hah!!"
Crimson lightning erupted from his chest.
Grand Monarch Annihilation's "skin" was blasted away, revealing the chaotic, turbid, dark-red energy currents within. At this moment, Annihilation resembled a flayed anatomical model from a biology classroom.
His sole remaining right arm was raised high once more, and tens of thousands of brilliant lights rained down from between the canopy's shadows.
If the previous [Sacrifice] was Annihilation offering up the "insignificant" Antimatter Legion from countless galaxies, then the target of this [Sacrifice] was the mid-to-high command of the Antimatter Legion itself.
From the Star-busting class [Havoc Vanguards] at the bottom to the Stellar-class [Destruction Emissaries] at the top.
In the depths of the vast, starry sea, every "retainer of Nanook" that Grand Monarch Annihilation had ever come into contact with, without a single exception, was swept into this cataclysm that engulfed multiple universes!
"Star-Vault!"
"What are you hesitating for!?"
This was a power even more terrifying than [Galactic Combustion]. Annihilation's heaven-propping arm actually began to bend under the strain.
"We Grand Monarchs!" he roared. "Even seated on the throne of mortals, we cannot escape our fate as pawns in the hands of the gods!"
"Them!"
"They are nothing but lucky fools who stumbled upon their Paths by chance!"
Why was there a disparity in power among the Astral Gods? Besides the inherent differences in their Paths, it was because many of them were merely lucky ones who had been forcibly promoted from the rank of Emissary when an "Old God" fell.
"To ascend to godhood..."
Therefore, in the eyes of many Grand Monarchs and even Emissaries, the majority of the weaker Astral Gods were unworthy of their great titles and positions. As for how much of this was envy, no one could say.
"Is not to change our fate, but to find our true selves!"
"Star-Vault!"
"..."
Lu Xing cast aside his final hesitation.
"Come!"
"Let's end this, Annihilation!!!"
Amidst a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering roar, the last intact part of the Grand Sovereign Entropy Dragon's body—the [Grand Sovereign Divine Ring] shining behind him—erupted with blinding light!
DENG!
Hundreds of brilliant streams of light surged forth from the upper reaches of the majestic Imaginary Tree!
The Monarch had recalled the power of all his avatars.
And—
"I'm sorry, everyone."
---o---
Boom!
The Imperial Parent World. The Throne. The Ninety-Nine Chambers.
Millions, tens of millions, hundreds of millions of streams of light shot up from every corner of the planet.
"Why isn't it our turn yet?" A woman in a white lab coat stood with her arms crossed, gazing at the fleeting "fireworks" in the distance.
"Don't be anxious. The Monarch will call upon us... If he hasn't used us yet, doesn't that just mean it's not the most dangerous moment?" A short girl with spiral glasses replied to her director, frantically tapping at a keyboard before her. The device looked like an ancient game, from its interface to its controls... so old it didn't even have an emulator.
"No," the taller woman said, her body beginning to turn ethereal as a soft white light emanated from her. "There's also the possibility..."
"Well, I guessed wrong."
"Director, you seem rather happy about it?"
"No, death is always terrifying. But our lives, which should have been brief, have been waiting for this very possible conclusion from the moment we accepted the Monarch's power... haven't they?"
"Yes—"
Boom!
The word had barely left her lips. Before she could type out "Game Clear," the girl transformed into a stream of light and shot toward the heavens.
"..."
Boom!
---o---
The Vitriel Star System, at the center of the inner ring's grand star sector, centered on the Deimos system.
"Tch, at a time like this." This was one who hadn't had his fill of killing before the campaign ended.
"Rather, this is the perfect time. These two captured hive mothers will provide a great deal of extra energy for His Majesty." This was one who was loyal and exceptionally clear-headed.
"..." This was one who was taciturn.
"It's finally our turn to contribute to the Monarch." This was one who had served as a guard for four thousand years.
"Eh? All of us? I thought only the main body would be needed, that a few consciousnesses could be left behind." This was a certain well-endowed patient of split personalities.
"Ara~" This was the ever-eloquent tsundere queen. "Based on the situation on 'Earth,' we've already lived an extra four thousand-plus years... This so-called 'infinity' is not as interesting as one might think."
"Father..." This was one who had never found the chance to speak.
"A pity. It hasn't been long since you fully recovered."
"For me, I've had both a confidant and a goal... I have long had no regrets in this life."
These were two old partners.
Legions, fleets. A continuous line of brilliance, gathering from points into a vast sheet, swarmed into the tranquil ripple of Imaginary Space that had opened before them.
"And maybe..."
"Well, maybe."
These were the last, unfinished words.
Boom!
---o---
The Pillar of Heaven.
"Little Bai didn't summon us, did he?"
"Mm."
Pat, pat.
A sound like leather slapping against leather echoed in the vast, empty hall.
"...Cheche, now is not the time to be playing with your ball. Besides, you've been playing with that thing for 4,000 years. Aren't you sick of it?"
"Little Zi, you're jealous." Cheche came running back, hugging a life-sized "Monarch Ball Pillow."
"Hah!?"
"Because Cheche has a gift from Little Bai."
"...I have one too!"
"Where is it? Cheche doesn't see it."
"...Hmph, it's just not finished yet! The complete version will be much better than your stupid ball—"
Little Zi reached for the ball in Cheche's hands, but the latter dodged with a quick sidestep.
"Then you don't have one."
Pat, pat.
The sound of bouncing, starting slow and getting faster, echoed in the hall once more.
"..."
"Cheche."
"..."
"Cheche! Be serious!"
"...Hm?"
"Little Snakey sacrificed himself."
"Mm, Cheche felt it."
"Little Bai didn't summon him... He offered up his own source voluntarily."
"Mm, Cheche felt it."
"..."
"We can do it too," Little Zi said after a short silence.
"Little Bai doesn't want us to." Cheche was still mechanically repeating the motion of tossing the ball. The Monarch Ball in her arms was just a pillow, after all. It couldn't be a substitute for Little Bai... nor could it make Cheche smile.
"We're special in Little Bai's heart, right?"
"..."
"At a time like this, we're the ones who should be by his side first, aren't we?" Little Zi didn't wait for a reply; she was merely stating a fact.
"If Little Bai wins, he'll cry if no one is there to comfort him. But if Little Bai is gone, who will be there to comfort us?"
"...Little Zi is so selfish."
"..."
"But... Cheche was thinking the same thing."
"..."
"Then let's go."
Little Zi extended her right hand to Cheche.
"..."
Cheche, carefully hugging the Monarch Ball with one arm, extended a soft, puffy hand toward Little Zi.
"—"
Boom!
"..."
Pat, pat.
---o---
The Imaginary Tree.
"Little Zi..."
Lu Xing knew almost every citizen of the Empire.
Countless familiar auras flooded into his body, bringing with them a frenzied surge of power, and a heart that sank ever lower.
Until—
The three most familiar auras merged into him.
Lu Xing knew what he had to do. He allowed himself no time for grief.
"Astral God..." The dream of all Grand Monarchs was spoken with utter disdain in Lu Xing's murmurs at this moment.
"ANNIHILATION!!!"
"STAR-VAULT!!!"
The peak of Grand Monarch was no longer sufficient to describe their power.
Even the most supreme of Astral Gods would want no part in this conflict. Without a doubt, when the energies they wielded collided, the entire universe would tremble!
A clash with everything on the line!
VMMMMMM—
— —
BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!
---o---
A branch of the Imaginary Tree snapped.
Countless leaves danced wildly; adrift civilizations scattered into the river below.
"..."
On the silent battlefield, only the two wordless witnesses of the Tree and the Sea remained.
"Why?"
The Grand Sovereign Entropy Dragon had been obliterated, but the one who voiced the question, for some reason, was Annihilation, who had barely protected his own shell.
"This was not a righteous victory."
Through the colorful curtain of falling leaves, the silhouette of a human who should not have been there was faintly visible.
"Star-Vault?"
"No..."
The brilliance faded, and Annihilation finally saw the figure opposite him clearly. His eyes first filled with shock and disbelief, then calmed with astonishing speed.
"Yuke."
"I see. So, Yuke truly died at my hands. Your source... was it a fragment of Yuke preserved by the Final Monarch?"
[Emissary · Finality Grand Monarch · Crown of Time · Gaplight Adjudicator]
The [Finality] Dominion that Annihilation commanded had come from this very Grand Monarch under the Final Monarch.
"..."
"Just as you said, the Final Monarch chooses his favored messengers."
Lu Xing knew the future. His memories and life as a human were real, but the information in his mind about Honkai, the Astral Gods, and the Tree and Sea... did not come from a "game" as he had thought, but was the "legacy" left behind by that [Finality Grand Monarch].
"You just said this victory was not righteous?" Annihilation asked.
"The [Finality Dominion] in my body was originally your power. Being outmaneuvered by a single move, I have only myself to blame for underestimating you..."
"No."
Annihilation understood. "The level of power determines the degree of control. Even if you had left a contingency, you could not have controlled the [Finality Dominion] inside me under those circumstances."
"...The Final Monarch made a move."
"Am I right, Yuke?"
At the final moment, the [Finality] within Annihilation's body had slowed his actions, causing the two world-destroying explosions of Path sources to detonate closer to him. He was indeed stronger than Star-Vault. On the original trajectory, Annihilation would have utterly annihilated Star-Vault at the cost of eighty percent of his combined soul and body.
That was a small problem. After that, using the Paths within Star-Vault, Annihilation would have ascended to godhood directly. For an existence like an Astral God, a mere loss of an "avatar" was nothing.
Unfortunately...
"I am Lu Xing, not Yuke."
Lu Xing did not confirm it, but for Annihilation, such an answer was enough.
"Lu Xing..."
"Star-Vault." Annihilation corrected his address, but not completely. His power was rapidly dissipating, and the ownerless Paths were surging into the Lu Xing opposite him.
"Nanook's plan has failed," Annihilation stated. "If you were to ascend to godhood, the Final Monarch would have ample time to help you strengthen the power of 'Sacrifice'—after all, He has the most time of anyone in the cosmos."
"The Antimatter Legion was consumed by me."
"...If this was the Final Monarch's plan from the beginning—no, this is the prophecy He brought back from his journey against time! Then the civilized universes occupied by the Antimatter Legion could be easily claimed by you, Star-Vault, with a single wave of your arm, using the power of the [Omen Vanguards] and the [Funerary Guests]."
"Then, the balance of power between the two Astral Gods, which should have been equal, would be completely overturned."
"Nanook would not necessarily die, but his power would continue to wane in this zero-sum game until he could no longer pose a threat to the 'rules'."
"..."
"Is this, then, the will of the Imaginary Tree?" Annihilation couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly in his final moments.
"No," Lu Xing replied. "Nanook may be eliminated, but it won't be like this."
"?"
Lu Xing pointed to his own head. His appearance at this moment was indistinguishable from a human's. "The 'truth' from just now was information left to me by the Final Monarch in the instant he descended. He, who is currently entangled with Nanook, paid a great price for this descent—in my opinion, it's roughly equivalent to 'Nanook losing the Antimatter Legion'."
"..."
After a brief silence, Annihilation, with less than ten percent of his body remaining, spoke slowly. "Do you have any idea what you're saying?"
"Of course."
"Annihilation, do you remember what you said just now?" Lu Xing asked slowly.
"'Not to change our fate, but to find our true selves'," both Grand Monarchs recited in unison, their voices overlapping in different pitches.
"For me," Lu Xing continued, "not undergoing 'Ascension' right now is my true self."
"..."
"It has come to this. The Paths will merge with you once I fully dissipate... you have no choice in becoming an Astral God, even if you don't want to. Or are you planning to spare me?" The mockery in Annihilation's voice became more pronounced. He had no need for such charity.
"I will show no mercy to my enemies," Lu Xing said. "But I have no desire to be a pawn of the Astral Gods..."
Annihilation's Path aura dwindled further. The only power left in him was his original [Destruction]. All other Paths had merged into Lu Xing.
Deng.
A shimmering light gathered in the palm of the indistinct human figure.
"This is—"
"The Path Otto left behind. What you believed to be 'Sacrifice'."
"...You never denied my claim."
"But I never confirmed it either."
That was right. The Path Otto had left behind was not the [Sacrifice] that Annihilation could have guided, but something similar yet fundamentally different—
[Enlightenment].
"Ha..."
"Haha! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Annihilation's laughter was barely audible, but the smile on his face could not be suppressed!
"Star-Vault! Star-Vault!!"
"Interesting!"
"Too interesting!"
"The Astral Gods see us as pawns! And you! What you've done is no different from what I did!"
"Your [Order] comes from a deceased god, so that Path is not affected. But this power, inherited from Yuke, is inextricably linked to the Final Monarch!"
"Star-Vault!"
"Ascend to godhood, and you become the Final Monarch's marionette!"
"Refuse to ascend, and how can you ever hope to escape his control!"
"You—"
"..."
Annihilation's voice stopped abruptly. He suddenly recalled something Star-Vault had once said.
"You care a great deal about your tools."
"You're going to discard... no, you're going to burn away Finality... to reverse time!?"
Reversing the great river of time was something not even the Final Monarch could achieve.
However, reversing time for a very small number of individuals was not entirely impossible with the combined power of [Finality] and [Enlightenment]—this was how Otto had created a future for Kallen.
Lu Xing's power was far greater than Otto's. The price he would have to pay was "merely" the disappearance of the two Paths, [Finality] and [Enlightenment].
But!
[Finality] was immensely powerful. It was the mark of a Grand Monarch-level powerhouse, a power intimately connected to Lu Xing's soul.
To burn Finality was to burn his own soul!
This meant that the life and memories belonging to "Lu Xing" would, along with the burning of Finality...
Cease to exist.
"..."
Lu Xing did not answer Annihilation's question. The power of time seeping from his body had already begun to cover the area around the Imaginary Tree like a thick fog.
"Lu Xing."
"Yes?"
This final conversation felt less like one between Grand Monarchs and more like one between mortals.
"Take my final Path. By severing Paths, your road to godhood will become a hundred, a thousand times more difficult than it is now."
"But..."
"I'd quite like to see it."
Annihilation's soul was undergoing its final collapse.
"A life not controlled by the Astral Gods..."
"How dazzlingly brilliant that would be."
"..."
"Thank you. I will."