Chapter 1097: The Void’s Memory
Northern fell silent. The Chaos Prince’s words had struck him like a hammer blow, leaving him unable to respond immediately.
Especially the part about them coming for him too. That meant the Chaos Prince must know what was currently happening to him.
’Of course he knows. He spent his entire life as half Origin, half Tyrant.’
Northern looked at him with barely contained indignation.
"Whether they’re a greater evil than you is none of my business. I have a responsibility not to give either of you what you desire—it could lead to the complete devastation of my world."
The Chaos Prince threw his head back and laughed.
The sound felt jarring, so Northern furrowed his brows and watched him.
"Ah, devastation of your world? Northern, what are you even saying? This world is already bound for destruction. Besides, why would I concern myself with a mirrored reality?"
Shadows settled across Northern’s face. His expression grew strained as he clenched his fist, fighting to suppress the storm brewing inside him.
"What do you mean?"
The Chaos Prince studied him with a serious expression, folding his hands before letting slip a small, infuriating smile.
"Northern. You knew nothing, did you? Do you know about the Great Cataclysm?"
Northern stared at him warily.
"No, never heard of it."
The Chaos Prince looked away for a moment, then fixed Northern with somber eyes.
"Northern, you don’t deserve to be kept in the dark about all of this. But I can see that darkness is where you are—where you’ve grown. And you’ll rot there if you don’t hand over the Void."
He paused, letting his words hang in the air like a blade.
"I can show you exactly what happened, but I’ll need the Void."
Northern’s voice rang with indignation.
"What does the Void have to do with showing me anything?"
The Chaos Prince sighed.
"The Void is the memory of all things. Don’t you feel it sometimes? Or do you have too little experience to truly grasp the vastness of the power you’ve been harboring?"
Northern frowned.
He knew the Chaos Prince was saying the truth.
The Void was indeed the memory of all things, and he had sensed it before, though in such a vague manner. It is this memory that allowed the creation of Revant and Bairan very possible.
Of course, their souls had a large role, but as the day passed by, each of them were slowly recovering their memories which should be buried so deep that their fragmented souls should not be able to reach.
However, that fragmented soul was merged with the Void.
It was also from this memory that Northern had learned how to inherently create vessels.
He didn’t know exactly what the Chaos Prince wanted to show him, but he knew he couldn’t trust the damned half-breed at all.
He remained skeptical.
At the same time, it was only a matter of time.
The Chaos Prince looked at him with a strange expression, making him frown again.
"What?"
The half-breed pointed to his nose.
"You’re bleeding, Northern."
Northern turned away and wiped his nose roughly, then stared at his blood-stained fingers.
The Chaos Prince’s sharp, vibrant voice cut through the silence.
"Your mortal vessel is breaking apart, Northern. The more you resist, the harder this becomes for you. It could lead to your own destruction. So can you stop being stubborn?"
He extended his hand toward Northern with calm composure.
"Take my hand and let me show you the history of the world. Let me show you what Ul has been hiding from you. Let me break the shackles that bind this world and make you realize you’ve only been living in a reflection."
His words shook Northern to his core, especially knowing that the Void was tearing his body apart like paper. The situation looked like he had no choice.
If he let the Void roam freely, there was a high chance the Chaos Prince would absorb it anyway—or worse, Kryos would.
He thought about Ul, but she was currently dwelling in Terence’s body. He didn’t think the young woman’s body could contain a Primordial existence like the Void.
He wasn’t even sure how she was managing with an Origin’s presence. He couldn’t destroy her.
His only option was to try trusting Anki, the Chaos Prince.
’And prepare to possibly beat the hell out of him.’
Northern knew that was a fool’s dream—he wasn’t even sure he could defeat Kryos in this state. He might have awakened as an Origin, but he still had a mortal body, which shackled him severely.
Using an Origin’s Will was tearing his body apart piece by piece.
Not that he hadn’t gained something from that brief taste of Will.
In the next two months, Northern was certain that after becoming an Ascendant and then a Paragon, he could easily reach Luminary.
He still had to become a Zenith—the peak of humanity. There, he would probably gain a body that transcended mortality and finally wield his Origin status efficiently.
But this raised questions about the Path to Origination and Tyranny. According to the things that he had learned of Origins, the Path to Origination shouldn’t be possible, especially for a mortal.
Northern frowned as he felt blood drip steadily to the ground.
’Now isn’t the time for all that. I need to make a decision.’
He stared at the Chaos Prince, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
Despite inhabiting Ulzred’s body, he was worlds apart from the young boy Northern remembered.
The Chaos Prince wore a calm, gentle expression laced with cunning and wickedly sharp edges.
Ulzred had been an innocent, curious child, always hungry to learn.
And he certainly hadn’t been as tall as the Chaos Prince now stood.
The Chaos Prince looked deep into Northern’s eyes.
"Have you made your decision?"
Northern closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. When he did, his demeanor cleared like the bright morning sky breaking through storm clouds. His face became even and blank.
"I have one more question."
The Chaos Prince gave him his full attention, waiting as Northern continued.
"You prepared for your return, didn’t you? How did you manage it? I thought your father devoured you."
The Chaos Prince chuckled.
"That’s a peculiar question, really. I didn’t see my father’s betrayal coming, so I had no time to prepare for my return. However, it wasn’t impossible. While the Origins held me in exile, I experimented extensively with my body and Chaos..."
Northern’s eyes narrowed.
"I created many beings from my flesh out of curiosity. I even forged ten particularly powerful ones and named them Plague Kings. Peculiar, isn’t it? They were meant to be my friends..."
He chuckled softly again.
"I never had friends growing up—I was a strange child. So I thought to create my own companions, but each turned out nothing like I expected. I’m certain you slayed one of the most powerful among them, and somehow a considerable fragment of my soul gathered within yours, allowing me to awaken to myself."
Understanding dawned on Northern like a cold sunrise.
’Ah...’
Bairan had killed one of the Plague Kings. Northern had killed two—the Blood Palace King and the Leviathan he’d faced at the Academy.
Northern hadn’t been certain before, but that corrupted Chaos, the way it had infected other monsters in the underground dungeon...
He exhaled deeply.
’Just who do I blame for this damned turn of events?’
He stared at the Chaos Prince’s extended hand.
’Hell...’
Slowly, he reached out with his right hand toward the half-breed, his gaze shifting from their approaching hands to the Chaos Prince’s face as their fingers finally met.
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[A/N]
Brace up!