Chapter 507: Revisiting The Past 2
“A month after I came back from the Ruin, the Third Knull War went on. As you can guess, it was a swift win.”
“The Ten Hegemony Families were more prepared after what they learned from the Second War, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t difficult.”
“In the end, they made a choice to come together, align their equality under the name of the Ascension Alliance.”
“The Fourth War came about two months later, and it was quite the battle. But we won it too, without much loss. With the Ten Families coming together under a banner, it was much safer—and much easier.”
“But the problem started at the Fifth War, about two months later. It was very difficult to win, as a new Knull type descended—the one referred to as the Knull Kings.”
“They were very difficult to defeat, as they had cultivation that rivaled the Eternity Grade tier.”
“And as you may already know, Apex Energy in this world is much weaker than Abyssal Energy—meaning about a total of three Eternals would be required just to match a Knull King.”
“Four would be needed to kill one.”
“And we also noticed that instead of a single portal in a single location, two portals were appearing at the same time, in different places.”
“The Ascension Alliance wasn’t ready for the appearance of Knull Kings—nor were they ready for two portals appearing.”
“So, there was quite the amount of loss.”
“But what I tracked down was that these losses were mostly because of a lack of information and communication.”
“When the Fifth War came, some Eternity Grade experts didn’t even have each other’s numbers in hand—and none could contact each other at all.”
“That was when I thought of creating an organization.”
“More of an information organization.”
“I wanted to know what was happening in real time and have the Eternity Grade experts be able to communicate with each other, linking them all to me, who has eyes everywhere.”
“I called it the StarWeave Organization, and its main purpose was for me to keep an eye on what was happening with the Knull War. Although we expanded with tasks of evacuating the areas where a Knull portal would be opening soon.”
“The StarWeave Organization is the Eyes of Endearth, working hand-in-hand against the Knulls, supporting the Ascension Alliance.”
“The war that happened today was the sixth, and it has been a year since we both left for the Ruin.”
“A full year, with about a week…” Aster summarized, as Ryuk inhaled from the amount of information.
It was a lot to take in.
He had expected that when he came back, he would be met with the Third Knull War having been finished, or yet to even start.
After all, he had only spent about two weeks in the Medysla world.
But who would have thought… an entire year had already passed on Endearth?
Aster remained quiet, giving Ryuk some time to process her words.
But then she watched as his brows knitted in confusion.
“What is it?” She couldn’t help but ask, as he turned to her, his lips parting.
“Why did you continue to fight, even after I was gone?”
“Creating an organization, trying to help out the Ascension Alliance with information, helping Endearthians evacuate… You didn’t need to do all that since the deal was you would help me as much as you can to win the war against the Knulls—but I was nowhere to be found.”
“Yet you continued still. Now that I know a full year has passed, I didn’t expect you would do so much…” Ryuk said, as Aster placed her cup to the table, before staring out the window.
“And don’t tell me it was because of the Contract Grimoire.”
“When I ‘died’, then even though the contract grimoire is still there, I was absent—meaning I could no longer stop you from leaving Endearth altogether.”
“And if I remember correctly, I already got rid of the ‘stay around me always’ clause—meaning, you could have left Endearth alone and gone about your own life.”
“So… why stay?”
“Because it was all because of me…” Aster said, as Ryuk’s eyebrows knitted.
“Because of you?”
“All you wanted was a place to lie low, Ryuk. You were going to do that before I told you we were in this together and took you to the Ruin of Niagara.”
“I didn’t expect you wouldn’t return, but the truth is… I was the one who took you to the Ruin of Niagara.”
“I was the one responsible for your absence. I could never leave this world unless I found a way to redeem myself for what I had done.”
“And that was when it occurred to me—that all you wanted in the first place was for Endearth to be rid of the Knulls.”
“So, I took it upon myself to see that your last wish was at least fulfilled.”
“That was why I stayed.”
“That was why I did everything I did.”
“Because of the guilt I felt… for ending your life,” Aster whispered, as the room descended into silence.
Ryuk’s lips parted, trying to say something, but in the end, no words came out, and he simply decided to remain silent.
Minutes passed in that silence, perhaps hours, before a whisper broke through.
“When you said we were in this together previously, I didn’t think you meant it that much.”
“When I saw that Ruin Guardian, I thought you just wanted me to help you defeat the Ruin Guardian. That was why you brought me there in the first place.”
“Not that you were genuinely trying to find a place for me to lie low.”
“But now…” Ryuk said as he turned to Aster, looking into those deep starlike blue eyes,
“Now, I know—you meant every word of it, Aster.”
“You… hold more good in your heart than I thought was there,” he said, as she rolled her eyes.
But then, her gaze softened.
She sank silently into her chair before she smiled.
“You just wanted it.”
“You wanted to save Endearth so bad, and it moved me so much I couldn’t just leave it alone and watch it be destroyed during your absence—especially when I had a role to play in it.”
“Not that I held much good or anything… it was your conviction.”
“It moved me—just by being there, even if you yourself were absent.”