Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison

Chapter 183

Chapter 183

The Vengeance was being consumed by darkness. It was a strange thing. When it came down to it, the lives of Dan and the others from the Lunar Development Agency's second unit had only been saved due to the whims of this bizarre entity.

And now, the ship that was supposed to be their banner of revenge was about to be reborn as a vessel of evil that loved chaos and absurdity.

It was transforming into something that looked like a ship, like a beast, or perhaps something entirely unidentifiable and grotesque. Its color blended into the scenery, making it impossible for Kait to fully grasp its form.

"I see. Looking at it this way, I really feel that it's not a living creature."

Terapolapaneshio referred to 'The One Who Can't Be Pronounced' as an existence, never once calling it a living being. So Kait also decided not to think of it as a living creature.

Then, a voice like static reached Kait's ears.

'You have touched the laws of the universe. Only our father, the great creator of this world, is allowed such acts. Those who violate the taboo shall not leave behind even a single cell.'

"The creator, huh. Honestly, I find intelligent design theory pretty dubious."

Taboo. Compared to the taboo spoken of by the Federation, this one felt so cheap in meaning. Kait sent out the Worker Bees toward the Vengeance, which had become a writhing mass of darkness.

It wasn't with the expectation of causing damage. Rather, it was a probing action to understand the changes through contact, but the moment of contact brought such discomfort that Kait instinctively grimaced.

The Worker Bees themselves were swallowed by the darkness and vanished. The problem was the cause of the discomfort. It felt like something utterly grotesque had stroked a part of his nonexistent body. It was an indescribable sensation.

'Heh. Touch us, and you'll be consumed. Even for the formless, there are no exceptions.'

"Tch. Did you interfere directly with my psychic power?"

Psychic power, too, must be considered a part of Kait's body. In particular, Kait and the Queen Bee were connected through psychic power. The Worker Bees could be used as ammunition or discarded, but they were essentially part of the Queen Bee. Normally, the formless shouldn't be touchable—but 'The One Who Can't Be Pronounced' wasn't normal, hence it could.

If one were swallowed by such discomfort, they'd likely lose everything in an instant. Constantly updating information on the enemy, Kait decided to refrain from attacking with the Worker Bees.

"Well then, how about this?"

Once the will to destroy had been converted into energy, even if touched, they shouldn't be able to interfere with Kait.

Without needing to be told, Emotion launched four Psionic Launchers. After moving to a position where neither 9th-Terra nor Sarunzarek were in the line of fire, she imagined every possible form of destruction.

"Oooooh!"

Four streaks of pure white struck the mass of darkness dead-on. There was no discomfort like before. None, but—

'So this is the level of precision that humanity's imagined destruction can achieve.'

It hadn't reached the mass of darkness. That is to say, 'The One Who Can't Be Pronounced' knew of destruction with far greater precision than Kait could imagine. And it was using some incomprehensible force to defend against Kait's attack.

Well, that was expected. Kait's career as a Federation citizen was still short. He never thought an attack would work easily on something equal to or greater than Terapolapaneshio. For now, it was still time to gather information.

'To remain so composed even after realizing your trump card doesn't work—this kind of incomprehensible lifeform is what makes Earthlings so fascinating.'

"Even though you intend to kill them as soon as they're born, huh?"

'There are those who occasionally grow in secret, beyond our gaze. More often than not, such beings throw our plans into complete disarray.'

The darkness crept toward the Queen Bee with a chilling slither.

Kait deployed a barrier, thicker and stronger than usual, endlessly so.

'Hmm...?'

Appendages that could barely be called hands extended and began pressing in from both sides to crush the Queen Bee.

Perhaps it was unexpected that it couldn't be crushed. Though pressure was applied with a grinding force, the Queen Bee's barrier didn't budge an inch.

"What's the matter? Can't break such a tiny orb?"

He relaxed his mouth and asked. The will embedded in this barrier was one of absolute rejection. It would reject all attacks—destruction, interference, everything.

'Not bad. So you want a contest of endurance, is that it?'

"That could be fun, but while we're at it—how about you tell me something to pass the time?"

In a pure endurance match, Kait had no chance. 'The One Who Can't Be Pronounced' was overwhelmingly superior. To win against such a being, he needed to shake its heart.

To provoke, one must first know the opponent.

Judging from the previous conversation, the chances of getting useful dialogue were slim.

"This 'creator' you speak of—are you saying it's the being that created this universe?"

'Isn't it obvious? This universe is one of the many dreams our father slumbers in. When he wakes, it ends. This playground vanishes.'

"Huh. That's quite the tale."

'We adorn our father's dream in the form he desires. In that sense, Kait Crouch, your desperate struggle will surely serve as delightful stimulation to ease our father's boredom.'

"That's not exactly an honor. I guess the story ends with me being brutally killed by you guys, huh?"

As the other laughed uproariously at how well Kait had grasped things, he too let out a wry chuckle. They'd given him more useful information than expected. If he used intelligent design theory as a base, he might be able to break through.

"So this so-called father of yours, this self-proclaimed creator, is really just a third-rate god wannabe."

'Hahaha. Running out of things to say, are you? You're trying to disrupt our minds, but do you really think we'll fall for such a cheap trick?'

"If you accept intelligent design theory, then someone must have designed this world. If that someone is a god, then a first-rate one would never interfere with the world they created."

'Hmph, such petty wisdom from a tiny creature.'

But even as it spoke, the pressure on the barrier intensified. Its tone was light, but Kait was definitely getting close to something it didn't want touched.

"If a so-called creator truly existed, they would have set the rules first and then never interfered again. Do you think there's any point in adding unnecessary elements to a perfectly completed game board?"

If a god existed, they would simply watch over the world they created from afar. Because—

"Interfering needlessly only makes the game boring. A first-rate god is full of love yet merciless, and cruelly fair. They would never interfere with us except when the rules are broken."

On the other hand, one could say that time interference causes strain precisely because it violates those rules. Altering the past rewrites the game board entirely, hence the heavy burden. That's surely why time travel is taboo.

Conversely, time travel to the future doesn't cause as much strain. That's because a cause is prepared. Though it still changes the game board, the impact is small.

"Any god who interferes with their own game is second-rate or third-rate. If you remain mysterious, you're second-rate. But if you show your face like you, you're third-rate. If you want to at least be second-rate, don't go around bragging about being our father."

'...Second-rate, third-rate—you sure spout whatever you like...!'

The pressure increased further. But it still wasn't enough to break Kait's barrier.

Then, the darkness in the shape of a ship began to behave abnormally. As if something inside was trying to tear its way out.

'You called us cowards, didn't you?'

With a rip, something started to protrude from within. Like wings, or claws.

The darkness began to swell. Though silent, it was eerie. The darkness grew so massive it threatened to engulf the Queen Bee entirely.

'Such blasphemy can no longer be forgiven.'

For a moment, Kait thought he saw something with the face of Zion Georg. But it was quickly devoured by the swelling darkness and vanished.

'By offering thirteen avatars as sacrifice, I shall now reveal my majesty.'

The swelling darkness writhed grotesquely, growing to a size nearly rivaling Sarunzarek. The true body would likely appear soon.

"Sheesh. You never intended to forgive me from the start, did you?"

Kait smiled wryly, and continued with that same smile.

"When a self-proclaimed omniscient, omnipotent being realizes they aren't actually omniscient or omnipotent—do you think they can keep their sanity?"

As if to say "Enough, stop talking," the writhing of the dark mass intensified. Watching its frustrated thrashing, Kait delivered his final question.

"Here's the last question—tell me. Is your great, great father still sane?"

'Youuuuuuuu!'

With a tearing sound, the membrane of darkness was ripped apart, and the true form of 'The One Who Can't Be Pronounced' revealed itself. But Kait had no intention of paying it any attention.

He had lured out the true body. And enraged it to the point that it couldn't see anything else.

A truly splendid result. Fully satisfied with having drawn out a perfect response in such a short time, Kait ordered the Queen Bee to teleport. The destination: right behind 'The One Who Can't Be Pronounced.'

The time for the finale had come.