Chapter 201: Fall into the abyss with me! (Two-in-one)
Rumbling—
The metal door of that magnificent tower closes with a bang.
Blocking all sounds within this extremely dark tower.
Heiser stands up anxiously and rushes to the side of that metal door, trying to push it open.
However, all she gets in response is the icy cold touch of steel.
Not only has she lost the transcendence bestowed by her Elf Race bloodline.
As Shaya left her, he also set up a magic-blocking array in this deserted tower, causing all spell incantations to fail as soon as they were uttered.
Here, Heiser is just an ordinary elf.
Just like Shaya’s solemn “goodbye.”
The metal door is like an eternal barrier.
Separating Heiser and Shaya into two worlds.
Shaya’s surroundings, all scenery and objects, are disintegrating and dissipating.
Whether it is the scorching sunset or the azure and clear sky.
Or the city that was bustling and lively before, but now appears somewhat deserted under the sunset.
Everything is becoming illusory.
Then, it shatters like bubbles.
Some scatter, some peel off downwards, and the sound of things breaking is carried by the wind.
The gloomy night, along with the ensuing dead silence, envelops this world once more.
This is an expected scene.
This city, which is holding an arcane festival, is not a real city at all. It is merely a scene conjured by Shaya from his imagination in the Spiritual Ocean, using illusions.
Much like the City of Atlantis in fairy tales.
This city, submerged by floods, reappears in the mist for only one day every hundred years.
On this day, the residents of Atlantis live in peace and joy, singing and dancing, just as they did the night before they were swallowed by the flood. Occasionally, tourists who pass by and mistakenly enter it believe they have stumbled upon a real city that is not marked on any map.
And when this day passes, everything in the city will turn into bubbles under the rising sun, and all will return to nothingness.
“Time is up.”
A peaceful voice sounds from behind Shaya.
Shaya turns his head and looks behind him, at the black iron throne.
On the black iron throne, the illusory figure that was in deep sleep, though still in a seated posture, can be felt—
He has awakened.
Suddenly, the hazy layer covering his face dissipates, allowing Shaya to see his appearance clearly.
The countenance of this ancient Sun God is constantly shifting between illusory and real.
These are two diametrically opposed states.
One is a handsome Elven face, with sharp and slender ears, showcasing the facial characteristics of the Elf Race to the extreme, making him so handsome that it is difficult to distinguish between male and female.
He is adorned in magnificent clothing, with a radiant Crown on his head.
This is the current form of this ancient Sun God, the former Master of the Elf Royal Court, the appearance of the Elf King.
And the other countenance, situated between illusion and reality, astounds Shaya.
It is clearly the appearance of a human youth, identical to Shaya himself.
“Is it done? Those things you can’t let go of.”
“If you still have regrets that haven’t been resolved, I can give you more time.”
The illusory voice speaks again, with less majesty and more warmth, somewhat similar to Shaya’s.
Shaya looks at the figure on the black iron throne, shifting between illusion and reality, then glances back at the Black Tower that still remains amidst the dissipating illusions of the city, not disappearing with them, and smiles.
“No need.”
“Everything that needed to be done has been done.”
“Continuing to linger would only make the farewell drawn-out and ungraceful.”
“And—”
Shaya calmly looks at the ancient Sun God. “Compared to the other True Gods I’ve met before—”
“You, at this moment, feel more human to me.”
The phantom on the throne shows no surprise, merely stating plainly, “Solely pursuing divinity and stripping away humanity is a mistaken path, ultimately leading to loss of control and madness. This is a fact I verified in the Glorious Era with thousands of years and painful sacrifices.”
“Other Mythical Creatures have not understood this point, and naturally continue to walk this path of constantly collecting divinity, falling deeper and deeper.”
“Since I know I was wrong and now choose to abandon the previous erroneous path for a new vessel, I will naturally make adjustments and corrections.”
“According to my current understanding, divinity and humanity have no inherent hierarchy.”
“Great power and authority tend towards chaos and madness. Since this is the case, the human aspect is needed for stabilization…”
“There are many ways to achieve this, such as strengthening the emotional side, increasing empathy with the Spirit World, or through believers, linking one’s self-perception with the image shaped by believers and anchoring it.”
This ancient Sun God frankly admits his previous mistakes.
“Also, there is the concept of compatibility between soul and body.”
“Although my status is far higher than yours, to ensure the fused body has no flaws, I naturally need to actively correct myself to be compatible with you.”
The illusory countenance of the ancient Sun God begins to stabilize gradually.
The handsome appearance of the Elf King exists for a shorter duration, while the appearance of the human youth becomes more prevalent.
He faintly extends his hand. Although there is no actual movement, Shaya feels that his distance from the other party has decreased significantly in an instant.
“The illusion you just created is quite interesting.”
“Although it appears to be conjured from thin air, existing between illusion and reality, it can temporarily blur the boundaries between truth and illusion, interfering with reality through ethereal fantasy and will.”
“Is this what you call magic?”
Shaya nods. “Of course.”
“To distort reality and reshape nature.”
“Such magnificent wonders of the human world are the true meaning of magic, blurring the line between the genuine and the counterfeit, manifesting fantasy into reality.”
“A very interesting path.”
The phantom on the throne does not conceal its admiration in the least.
“While in terms of scale, the magic you exhibit is still far from the Path to Godhood of collecting divinity and authority.”
“However, from it, I see a bright path no less promising than the stairway to ascension.”
“Once we merge, I will study its profound mysteries thoroughly.”
“Perhaps compared to the Path to Godhood, this path called magic and arcane arts holds a greater chance of touching higher realms.”
Shaya smiles. “To be praised by a Creator from the Glorious Era is, I must say, an honor.”
As they converse, the illusory figure has already risen from the black iron throne.
Without any pressure or fluctuation, he walks step by step to Shaya’s front.
He indifferently lifts his eyes and scrutinizes Shaya carefully. After a moment, a look of satisfaction appears on his face.
Satisfied with the excellence and power of this body he is about to acquire.
Even in the era when he himself sat on the Throne of Heaven, looking down upon all beings, he had never encountered such excellent material.
Yet, he never expected that after the Great Calamity that caused him to shatter himself, in an era where all beings should have withered and civilization declined.
He would once again see before him a being so astonishing that even an ancient Sun God’s knowledge would deem it stunning.
“Actually, you didn’t need to resist.”
“For you, this is not a calamity or disaster as you might imagine, but a great opportunity.”
He says faintly.
“This is a mutually beneficial transaction.”
“Whether it’s you, me, or that little Golden Elf girl you care about, everyone can achieve a perfect and complete ending.”
“And the only price you need to pay is a brief period of deep sleep before I ascend the Throne of Heaven again.”
“Can everyone achieve a complete ending?”
Shaya smiles.
He does not resist, and there is a hint of calmness in his tone.
“When you ascend the Throne of Heaven again… and help me reshape my body, that is too far in the future, and I do not hold such extravagant hopes.”
“My only request is that after you obtain what you desire, you grant Heiser her freedom.”
“Naturally.”
The ancient Sun God stands before Shaya, seemingly unwilling to delay any longer, and gently points a finger.
“As far as I am concerned, the elves in the Elf Royal Court have lost their use value.”
“I have no reason to break my promise to you over worthless things and suffer your potential backlash.”
“This is sufficient.”
Shaya closes his eyes.
As if completely giving up resistance, he allows the finger of the ancient deity to land on his forehead and says softly.
“Since you want it.”
“Then, take it.”
A smile appears on the handsome face of the Elf King.
That seemingly weightless finger lands on Shaya’s forehead.
Following that—within the decaying body of the Elf King, a vast will, like a surging river, pours into Shaya’s Spiritual World.
The gray-black mist, representing Shaya’s self-awareness, does not repel this incoming will. Instead, as if recognizing its fate, it allows the vast will of the ancient Sun God to depart from the nearly decaying body of the Elf King and enter its own Spiritual World.
Even with the knowledge of this ancient Sun God, a trace of joy flickers deep within his will at this moment.
Having crossed the barrier of Shaya’s self-perception and entered his Spiritual World.
With this accomplished, more than half of his plan has succeeded.
Next, all he needs to do is erase Shaya’s self-awareness within this Spiritual World.
Then, he can completely replace Shaya and become the new master of this nearly perfect vessel.
As for the promise made earlier to Shaya, to preserve his self-awareness and look for an opportunity to reshape his body later… that was merely spoken.
In any case, Shaya is the true owner of this body.
If his self-awareness were to be preserved, and Shaya were to suddenly go back on his word at a critical moment during a battle with other Mythical Creatures, vying for control of the body, it could lead to new turmoil and variables.
Even if this probability is very small… as the former owner of the Throne of Heaven, the ancient Sun God naturally needs to minimize all such risks.
One cannot sleep soundly beside a restless bedfellow.
However, at this very moment.
The ancient Sun God suddenly senses that in the Spiritual Ocean, Shaya’s self-awareness has opened its eyes.
And then, looks at him.
“Actually, you too are not entirely confident about ascending the Throne of Heaven again.”
“After all, although from beginning to end, you have always called yourself the Creator of the Glorious Era, the ancient Sun God.”
“But the real you… is merely the dregs discarded by the true Creator.”
“A genuine—”
“Imitation.”
Within the illusory Spiritual World, the magnificent phantom of the Elf King pauses slightly.
“Most of the secret information you are stating is factual.”
“However, you have deliberately hidden one point.”
The spiritual body formed by gray-black mist, representing Shaya’s self-awareness, says softly in the Spiritual World.
“The Creator of the Glorious Era was named the Sun God.”
“No matter how much he sensed flaws in his path, chose to discard excess divinity, and cut off excess authority… how could he possibly discard the authority of the blazing sun itself?”
“And this Lost Island, shrouded by the curtain of eternal night, is precisely the opposite of the Sun God’s name.”
Shaya looks at the incomparably handsome will of the Elf King before him and says faintly.
“Therefore, it is the exact opposite of what you described.”
“The real you is merely the disordered and mad part discarded by that Sun God, the dregs about to be thrown into the trash bin.”
“It’s just that the Creator’s madness and loss of control were more severe than imagined. As the disordered aspect, you were also prepared.”
“For example, the contingency plan for the Elf Royal Court and the entire Elf Race… or, the Elf King you secretly controlled as your new vessel…”
Upon hearing Shaya’s words, the will of the Elf King shows no surprise.
“Imitation… perhaps…”
“However, the line between genuine and imitation is never that clear.”
“If I can revive first and devour Him, replacing Him… then I am the genuine article, and He is the imitation.”
“And your excellence has shown me that possibility.”
He shakes his head indifferently, looking down at Shaya’s consciousness before him. “You saying this now cannot change anything, nor does it have any meaning.”
His entire will has already entered Shaya’s Spiritual World.
Admittedly, the youth’s spiritual body before him is profound and powerful.
Exceeding his prior expectations, possessing strength comparable to a true Mythical Creature.
However, in front of the fully revived Elf King, it is still inevitably destined to be eroded and devoured, ultimately erased.
It is merely a matter of time.
Having slumbered on the Lost Island for a thousand years, he naturally has enough patience and confidence to wear Shaya down.
“Meaningless…”
“Perhaps.”
Shaya smiles lightly.
“Indeed, this news itself changes nothing.”
“And the reason I said this was simply to bolster my own courage.”
He touches his chest.
“After all, I usually plan things thoroughly, ensure a ten-tenths chance of victory, and arrange multiple fallback routes before taking action.”
“As I am doing today, taking on something with no certainty of success is a very rare exception.”
“I always unconsciously seek some comfort.”
“Theoretically, the imitation version of the final boss is always easier to defeat than the real one.”
“Of course, this merely changes a situation with zero chance of survival to one with a ninety percent chance of death.”
Shaya says this with a smile.
In those eyes, which had originally dimmed, as if all hope of life was lost, struggling no longer, and filled with dead silence.
At this moment, a faint light flickers.
“However, this is not a Normal End or a True End.”
“But, for my teacher’s Happy End…”
“Some things…”
“Must be done.”
He quietly watches the Elf King’s phantom in the Spiritual World, which has already begun to diffuse its vast will, constantly eroding his Spiritual World, intending to rewrite Shaya’s self-perception.
Then—
He places his left hand on his chest, leans back, and slowly topples.
Not only the consciousness in the Spiritual Ocean.
But Shaya’s main body in the World Tree Fragment plane also leans back and falls.
What does he intend to do?
A question arises in the mind of the ancient Sun God.
The World Tree Fragment is His world.
Shaya’s action cannot allow him to escape this World Tree Fragment plane.
However—
In the next instant.
A scorching and brilliant silver spear-light pierces the gloomy curtain within the World Tree Fragment.
The dark palace is torn apart, along with the sub-dimension formed by this branch of the World Tree.
Amidst the fragments of the collapsing hall.
Shaya, along with the Elf King whose will and divinity have already entered his Spiritual World.
Falls towards the bottom of the shattered palace—
Into the infinite, silent void.
Only the youth’s voice remains.
Echoing throughout the shattered palace and the Lost Island.
“Fall into the abyss with me.”
