Chapter 1202: Flower
We exist in a world so vast, so wide, so large that it can appear endless at tis. For the living, this can be a discouraging notion. What is the point for an explorer to seek new land, new realms, new reaches? Journeying can take ages for them, and their greatest fear is right around the corner the entire ti.
For us, the undeads, endlessness is a concept we are most familiar with. Eternity is only natural. An endless conquest is not sothing to be wary of or frightened by. It is sothing to be thanked and savoured.
Even we face our challenges, however. The known world houses several superpowers we can not be reckless with… So what about the undiscovered world? The unknown does not frighten us, but we have to ask ourselves: What could lie beyond the fog?
Several livings have proven dangerous in our history already. The possibilities are endless. Ancient beings of great danger could be awaiting our approach. By travelling where no one else has been, we may uncover secrets even we–Blessed Ones–Can not handle.
There may be an entirely different world within the mist. There may be nothing. There may be everything. There may be both nothing and everything.
We must move beyond the fog. Blessed by the Pale Lady, we shall conquer in her na. This world shall beco one solely belonging to the undead. This world shall be hers. This world that does not yet exist will be.
We shall be here for all of eternity.
– Unknown
Inside a pearlescent void, scarcely populated by patches of white gardens, a loneso figure sat upon the ground. Humanoid in shape, yet utterly alien to the concept of mankind. The figure was made of pure white matter, gaunt with long limbs.
The silhouette–Anathema of shadow–Was assembling sothing out of white pieces that manifested into reality when needed. Apart from the hands and fingers, the figure remained still, barely visible amidst the sea of pearlescence.
All that revealed the shape’s presence was the single presence of blackness upon its face, shaped like an eye. It covered most of the figure’s face. Whether the silhouette gazed from it or not was a mystery, but when steps approached the figure, the ‘eye’ was directed at them.
“Uncommon. Rarely am I paid a direct visit. I must presu that you have co to ask for assistance, God-King?”
“You are, without the shadow of a doubt, the strongest being of the Divine Realm. If there is anyone who should take action, it is you”
“Your tone is quite strong today, God-King. Do you fear an exodus of the fellows you view as subjects?”
“…The realm is in danger”
“I see that you evade answering . Your fear of an exodus must be quite potent”
“Listen… If the undeads get their way, the entirety of the Divine Realm will beco nothing more than a land of the dead! Does it not enrage you?!”
“Now, God-King. Settle down your emotions. Uncontrollable fear and now this? You truly do make for a fraudulent image of Divinity”
“Does it enrage you, or not? Do you care for this realm?!”
“I have not been angry in a long ti. Nothing in my existence had been nearly serious enough for to escalate my emotions to such a point”
“…You…”
“I do not care for this realm. I only care for Divinity. Divinity will never cease to exist, no matter what. It will not even cease to exist following an undead takeover. The undead have deities themselves. Divinity will stay the sa in this world. Therefore, I do not care for this realm”
“You will die as well”
“That is indeed a possibility. Especially with the Apostolous Champion amidst the other side”
“Not only do you stay passive, but you just make up words as well! Won’t your precious divinity be tarnished if you die?”
“It will not. As I stated, undead gods exist. They have always existed. If they were a stain on Divinity, I would have dealt with them. I did not do so. God-King. Tell what you desire directly. I will consult with my Lady and give you an answer”
“Is it not obvious? We want you to fight. All of us, together, will give you our strength on top of your own. You will unleash the most powerful divine domain to have ever existed, and you will destroy Loi–”
“Shh… An interesting plan, but you should not speak his na unless you want him to learn of it”
“–You will destroy all of the undeads, banishing them from the Divine Realm permanently! Do you not seek to prove yourself against the champion of another Lady?”
“Fascinating. I do not comprehend why you would think I would desire to do such a thing”
“To… Prove that your Lady is better?”
“How could a duel of champions show which Lady is best? Champions are champions, and Ladies are Ladies. Do you imagine that a champion needs to be strong? Why would any Lady need to prove herself through soone else? Your thought process intrigues , I must admit”
“I despise the way you mock , Architect”
“I know, God-King. That is why I do it–To further answer your question, there is no point in challenging another champion. The Ladies are all connected. They are all sisters to one another. They are a harmonious group. The idea that there would be competition is insulting, really”
“Still! Are you just going to stand still and let yourself be killed?! Is that really how the Divine Lady wants to see her champion go?! If you can commune with her, ask her! Ask her what you should do!”
“That is unneeded”
“Excuse ?!”
“I already know what she would tell . She would tell to fight, obviously”
“Huh…? Then… What’s the problem here?”
“God-King. I can not die”
“What are you on about all of a sudden?”
“My existence is for my Lady to collect. Death, the Pale Lady, can not claim ”
“Alright, what does that have to do with what we were talking about?”
“Nothing. I rely wanted to ntion this fact”
The God-King did not say anything in retort this ti. The Architect was allowed to simply continue speaking.
“I am willing to fight this fellow champion–”
The God-King perked up.
“–Under certain conditions. Two conditions, in fact”
“First, you will not intervene in any manner. I do not desire your assistance. If we have to fight, let it at least be without external help”
“Secondly, if I lose. You will peacefully beco part of the Undead Empire”
“Excuse ? Are you out of your mind? Why would we ever bow down?”
“Because I am telling you too”
“You–”
“M U S T I R E P E A T M Y S E L F?”
“–You must not, Architect”
“Good. Swear it upon your godhood. Once that is done, I will step out and fight him, I suppose”
The Architect looked at the God-King. The Architect’s interlocutor was not just one of the God-Kings. It was all of them at the sa ti. They needed their combined power to step into this sub-realm. The ‘God-King’ was the purest representation of all of their thoughts and beliefs. The simple fact that they were so coherent and coordinated showed that, at the root of it all, they all agreed with one another on what to do.
Such unity was… Rare in the Divine Realm. Very rare.
“Do not sadden, God-King. There is no hope if I lose, and you know it. Spare yourself the anguish and trouble. Simply admit defeat. Capitulate in the face of utter impossibility. There is nothing to be ashad of. Knowing when to quit. Knowing when you can’t handle it. It is a virtue”
“When it cos to existence. We are all equal in the opportunities given to us. A pure being of Divinity like myself may be strong, but in the end, we are all but re specks within specks, within specks, within specks… All within a minuscule speck lost amidst the imnse endlessness of the Cosmos”
“The lowest of the low can rise to slay gods. And the highest of the high can fall to the most mundane of knives. All is possible. All is impossible. Once you understand that, you’ll understand nothing and everything”
“Do you understand it, Architect?”
“I do not”
The God-King remained still, but eventually, all took their vow. None of them truly understood the words of The Architect, and they probably never would. It seed like even the one uttering them did not truly know of their significance.
“Architect… If I may ask… Where are your angels?”
“They have already joined my Lady’s kingdom. I am the only one who remains here”
The Architect finally stood up, leaving what was being constructed on the ground. It turned out to be a flower. A bloom of pure white. A most enchanting and srising sight.
“I do not believe in wasting ti. Even to immortals, it is a most precious thing”
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