noveltune Chapter 420 81 - The Assimilation of Destruction
Chapter 420 81 - The Assimilation of Destruction
"Wende… is it? You personally killed several of my confidants. Are you trying to escalate this war to another level?"
Nanook's voice suddenly became devoid of all emotion. His eyes, without a flicker of feeling, stared at Wende.
"From the very beginning, you were the one who raised this war to its highest level. Even if I hadn't done this, you would have eventually started enacting your [Destruction], wouldn't you?"
Wende shook his head slightly, looking mockingly at the Aeon of [Destruction] before him.
Nanook's intentions were simple; he just wanted to see the Path of [Destruction] through to the end.
And what he wanted to [Destroy] was not just life and civilization. His ambitions did not stop there…
If his original purpose for [Destruction] was to prevent the universe from heading towards an irreversible [Heat Death], then now, his purpose had become the indiscriminate destruction of everything! The universe, the Aeons—they were all within the scope of his concept of [Destruction]!
"Only when all things are reduced to nothingness can the universe restart, instead of heading towards the predetermined [Finality]. That is irreversible."
Nanook stated calmly. That monster who traveled against the timeline had personally created other [monsters], and these monsters, even after becoming gods… were still monsters!
"Originally, the future was set in stone. No matter what, He would be born, and the universe would eventually reach its final conclusion."
"But at a certain moment, the future was rewritten. The outcome of the future has become blurry and invisible, and destiny is no longer fixed."
"If we continue down the same disastrous path, the universe will eventually become a [graveyard]. I have chosen to allow it to be reborn, and the price is…"
"[Destruction]!"
Wende listened calmly to Nanook's words. A once-noble Aeon was now on the same level as him. After learning about Nanook's history, Wende was not surprised by the choice he had made. This also explained why he had suddenly launched a war across the entire universe…
But, regarding destiny becoming invisible… no longer fixed…
How did he know this, and what connection did it have with what Long had said?
"Kid, I just took a nap. How come I opened my eyes to this unlucky piece of crap?"
Long, who hadn't spoken to Wende for a long time, was perhaps affected by the power of the Path of [Destruction] and actually initiated a conversation with Wende.
However…
Looking at the light screen before him, Wende stared wordlessly at Nanook not far away. Weren't you afraid of others discovering your existence? What's the meaning of showing up now?
"Interesting. The existence within your soul is as crude and vulgar as you are. No wonder it nurtured an [Aeon] like you."
"?"
Wende's brow furrowed deeply, his purple eyes filled with astonishment as he looked at Nanook.
He could actually see Long's light screen?
"This is why I told you not to make contact with other Aeons. It's too easy to be exposed!"
Long was still completely oblivious, sounding as if he wanted to continue lecturing Wende.
"Would you mind taking a look at the current situation? Are you really not afraid that I'll be made an example of? That this big oaf of Destruction in front of me will slaughter an Aeon for entertainment as the first step to [Destroying] the universe?!"
Wende's tone was full of complaint towards Long, but he was secretly already drawing upon the vast, free-roaming primordial chaos in the universe. The power symbolizing the Path of [Trailblaze] had also quietly set up thousands of coordinates.
If his opponent weren't an existence on the same level as him, he would have even wanted to hit Nanook with the power of [Propagation] and make him give birth to a little Nanook right on the spot!
This was a battle between Aeons, but it was clear that the other party was not in a hurry to fight Wende. Instead, he watched the conversation between him and Long with great interest, like a strong being looking down on the weak.
After all, in his eyes, [Trailblaze] had never been a powerful Aeon. Although they were both gods, Akivili of [Trailblaze] had perished long ago, leaving only a remnant of a Path struggling to survive.
And now, before him was merely a [substitute] who had inherited Akivili's mess. Was that light screen Akivili? It didn't matter. He would just destroy them both.
He had originally wanted to use the war to weaken the other Aeons' Paths so that he could be better prepared for the final battle.
But starting the slaughter ahead of schedule wasn't a big deal.
"Oh? You're saying this guy who looks like he's been chased down two streets with a knife wants to kill you? Why don't you just lie there and let him kill you? He'd tire himself to death before he could ever hurt you!"
Long appeared completely unconcerned, as if the [Aeon of Destruction] opposite them wasn't a god, but a little cat that could only throw a tantrum, posing no threat to Wende whatsoever.
"Oh? Although my Path cannot devour yours, causing an Aeon to fall is quite in line with the Path of Destruction. Aeons… can be killed too."
Hearing Long's "shameless boasting," Nanook looked as if he had just heard a joke.
"You're right. And while you are correct, I have to say you're right."
Long's words were dripping with sarcasm. Just as Wende thought Long was trying to provoke Nanook, his next words brought Wende a moment of sudden enlightenment and made Nanook's brow furrow.
"Wende… do you really think you're Akivili? You've gotten so used to your smurf account that you don't want to log into your main? Be careful, or Taiyi might come looking for you for a midnight chat!"
Long said to Wende, his tone full of exasperation, as if scolding a disappointing child.
"Yes, I never told you directly before, but didn't you figure it out yourself? Do I really need to spell it out for you? He himself said he can't devour you, so why don't you just go up and devour him? You're still preparing to fight? Fight my ass! He's served himself up on a platter, so why are you being so polite? Get him!"
"…"
"Uh…"
Wende scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He had indeed forgotten about that, and he had certainly forgotten about the concept of devouring a Path…
Just as Long said, after he assimilated the Path of Propagation, he had understood that "birth, aging, sickness, and death" were also part of Order. The concept of "death" could be broadened, even to a level higher than [Destruction].
However, that was just a fleeting thought he'd had before. Now that Long brought it up, Wende realized the problem wasn't what he thought it was.
That's right… why was he preparing for a "war between Aeons" with Nanook? Couldn't he just assimilate him directly?
"Tsk… I was gone for a little while, and the kid's brain went haywire? I'm hanging up. You can handle the rest yourself."
After saying this, Long's light screen vanished under the watchful eyes of both Wende and Nanook.
"So Aeons can suffer from delusions? Did he fall because his mind was damaged while trailblazing?"
Listening to Long's seemingly mad ravings, Nanook felt his words were like those of a mortal mental patient. Putting everything else aside… how could there be an Aeon who encompassed two Paths at the same time? If such a being truly existed, they would likely be bound by two unrelated Paths, becoming like a prisoner…
Then again, Aeons themselves were "prisoners" of their Paths. They could not act in a way that contradicted their Path. If the [Trailblaze] before him had truly inherited the Path that was assimilated and devoured by [Harmony]… then he wouldn't be standing here right now.
"You're right. And while you are correct, I have to say you're right."
His thoughts now crystal clear, Wende echoed Long's cryptic words back at Nanook, and then…
---o---
Under Nanook's shocked gaze, the "Primordial Chaos" symbolizing [Order] firmly sealed off the entire space. At the same time, Wende underwent a dramatic transformation. His clothes reverted to the five-star template he had molded before, and his aura changed abruptly. Nanook felt a power that sent a palpable sense of unease through his very soul radiating from all directions…
It was… the Path! The Path of Destruction… was trembling in terror!
"Honestly, I used to quite dislike this outfit. It looks like something from a gacha game, deliberately designed to sell a character. Anyone who didn't know better would think I was a host from a nightclub…"
Wende looked at his figure-hugging clothes with a helpless smile, but when he compared them to the one opposite him, he felt a sense of relief.
At the very least, he still had clothes on, right?
"…"
Nanook's brow tightened as he watched Wende muttering to himself.
He did indeed feel the power of a [Path] he had never felt before. Perhaps this was the result of that devoured Path re-emerging, but… it was just a recreated Path. How could it possibly contend with Destruction!
The next moment! The Path of Destruction manifested itself on the trunk of the Imaginary Tree, and its authority coalesced within Nanook's divine form! He had already empowered himself with his Path and abruptly raised his hand towards Wende!
All things will one day be [Destroyed], and things that are [Destroyed] become "dead"…
"Death"… it is the product of opposition to Permanence. As long as [Permanence] exists, there will be no true [Death]; as long as [Death] exists, there will be no true [Permanence].
And in this universe, the only thing that is truly [Permanent] is neither matter nor spirit.
It is "Rules"!
And Order is the necessary condition for all rules to operate!
In essence, as long as "Rules" still exist, then [Order] will not disappear. It can also be seen as… [Permanent].
Facing the oppressive might of the Path of [Destruction], Wende felt no pressure at all.
Normally, a single lift of Nanook's hand could mean the annihilation of an entire galaxy.
But now… he had merely lifted his hand.
The Path of [Destruction] flowed away from his fingertips like a torrent. To his utter disbelief, and even a look of panic, golden blood trickled down from his chest. His immortal divine body, due to the loss of its Path, was now on the verge of collapse…
A severed arm fell, and upon touching Wende's Primordial Chaos, it dissolved into specks of starlight, merging with the chaotic power.
"You…"
Nanook's divine form gradually became ethereal. Finally, his gaze returned to a state of calm, even containing a trace of clarity, and liberation.
In that instant, the Path of [Destruction] had been assimilated by Wende, and it was elevated to a higher level of "death"… oh, it was [Death].
Things that were destroyed still had the possibility of being reborn, but [Death] was the true end…
After becoming an Aeon and being completely controlled by his Path, this was the first time Nanook had felt such a sensation.
Fading away…
Ultimately… Nanook of [Destruction] was assimilated by Wende of [Order], and [Destruction] itself became an empty notion, like a farce… In the moment it was assimilated by [Order], it even briefly ascended to a broader Path.
But in the end, it all returned to Order.
Thus, Nanook of [Destruction] vanished from the universe in an extremely absurd manner, just like how [Harmony] had once devoured [Order].
Although Taiyi had done it intentionally, compared to being [devoured] at a mere glance, Nanook… had at least a slightly more dignified exit.
---o---
After losing the other Lord Ravagers, the Antimatter Legion was completely taken over by Xingxiao alone. Under her command, the Antimatter Legion erupted with unprecedented oppressive force. In the past, the Legion's combat effectiveness was based on the Lord Ravagers, but after Xingxiao took command, she unleashed the Legion's true, terrifying power.
Under Xingxiao's immense pressure, the major factions that had hoped to capitalize on the vacuum left by the other Lord Ravagers' deaths to deal a heavy blow to the Legion quickly abandoned their plans. They could only recall their troops and resume a defensive posture.
Xingxiao herself, after joining forces with the newly appointed Lord Ravager, began to cut a bloody path through her enemies. After learning of the other Lord Ravagers' deaths, Xingxiao knew that retreat was no longer an option. Until a new Lord Ravager was chosen, she had to carry out the will of [Destruction] and awe the entire universe with its mighty power!
And so, Xingxiao rampaged back and forth across the central star regions for over a month.
During this period, Wende was nowhere to be found, and Xingxiao herself gave the other factions no opportunity to get close to her, leaving them helpless against her.
This campaign was later recorded in history as "Xingxiao's Rampage."
But a month later, when Wende reappeared in the universe in the form of an Aeon, Xingxiao subsequently vanished. Correspondingly, the unidentified Lord Ravager also lost the blessing of [Destruction] and faded into obscurity.
And the Antimatter Legion, having lost all its leaders, became like the current Swarm—a "monster" wandering aimlessly through the star regions.