"There has to be a reason for all this, no?" Silence accompanied his question, as everyone waited patiently.
Of course, many of the Enforcers were not happy with Alexander and how he had treated them.
The only reason most of them were not going after him was due to the current situation and Alexander's abilities.
He did it once; he could do it again. For now, however, they wanted to hear what their corrupted colleagues had to say.
"Where are we again?"
On the other hand, Julia, Ross, and Cassandra looked at their new environment with curious eyes.
The three were standing on a formless platform surrounded by nothing but a shifting mass of white energy mist.
'My inner realm.' The reply came, softly echoing around them.
"Inner realm? As in the space where your power core is located?" Ross reasoned, his gaze roaming around.
'Yeah.'
"Since when was this possible?" Julia smiled. "We only gained the ability to look within ourselves after stepping into the Semi-Immortal level. I didn't think something like this was possible."
'It's very much possible. It's just not something you usually do.' Alexander explained. 'The current situation, however, has forced my hand. I can't let you guys stay outside with those corrupted monsters.'
"But your essence…"
'My essence could fail in this situation.' Alexander replied before Julia could finish her statement. 'The corrupted essence they are using isn't passive; it can fight back my essence.'
"So that's why…" The catwoman mumbled, drawing Ross and Julia's attention. Noticing their gazes, the catwoman added.
"Think about it. Alexander's essence isn't normal; it shouldn't even exist. It's the same for that corrupted essence.
"As much as his essence can purify the corrupted one, so too can the corrupted essence fight it." Cassandra looked at the giant screen before them. "And those Enforcers are using it to express their will."
'I see…'
The two Immortals nodded in realisation, looking at the fourteen corrupted Enforcers.
Like everyone, they had heard that dramatic monologuing, finding it as disturbing as the next guy.
"Alex…?" Julia called to her beloved. "Is it possible to make us experience what you're experiencing rather than showing it to us on a screen?"
'It's possible...'
Alexander answered, inwardly smiling. 'However, the kind of speed God level Veilwalkers utilise isn't something you can process, not to mention the amount of data you'd have to process in a short amount of time. Your mind can't take it.'
"Ugh…" Julia sighed with slouched shoulders, knowing Alex was right. "So even with the screen, we won't be getting a real-time experience."
'Hehe, sorry.'
"Hmph. I'd rather use this time to cultivate!" Julia enthusiastically clenched her right fist and sat down cross-legged. "Call me when it's over. I can watch the replay after."
'Of course, sweetheart.' Alexander warmly agreed.
"I guess I'll have to follow in her footsteps." Ross sighed as he too sat down. Although he wanted to hear what the corrupted Enforcers had to say, he could get it later.
Moments after the two closed their eyes, the surrounding mists from the formless platform swirled around them, creating an independent space where temporal energy was sped up.
Not surprising was the fact that none of them entertained the thought of Alexander ever losing. That was the level of trust and confidence they had in his abilities.
As for the catwoman, she had nothing better to do than watch and learn. Perhaps she could draw some inspiration from the fight.
The screen showing the scene outside, as Alexander saw it, shrank down and moved closer to her, allowing Cassandra to control it as she saw fit.
"Thanks."
The catwoman murmured, making a few touches to make the audio only play to her eyes.
Her perception might be faster than Immortals, but it still fell short when compared to Veilwalker Gods.
'You're welcome.'
At the same time, the corrupted Enforcers focused their attention on the battle-ready Alexander, ominously smiling his way.
From their stance, it looked like they didn't put their fellow Enforcers in their eyes — only Alexander mattered.
"All actions come from a place of purpose." Azarion spoke first.
"But purpose must align with creation…"
"...and creation must align with purpose…"
Everyone wore confused expressions, not sure what they were saying.
The words the corrupted Enforcers shared flowed seamlessly like they were spoken from one person, instilling a foreboding vibe to the surrounding void.
"What the hell are you saying…?" One of the Enforcers could not help but ask, a deep frown etched on their face. "What exact purpose are you hinting at?"
"I am but a fragment of what you fear the most…"
"What you dread in your sleep…"
"What you hope to protect…What you would seek to quell…"
The more they spoke, the less sense they made. Even so, Alexander and the Enforcers could somehow deduce what they were saying.
"Are you connected to that thing?" Drakmor asked what everyone was thinking, the idea itself sending shivers down their spines.
"Why do you reject your reality?" Instead of answering, one of the corrupted Enforcers asked. "Why do you so fiercely reject true freedom?"
"True freedom?" The Enforcers muttered, stunned and curious.
"The path to true freedom comes from rejecting what is… from rejecting what was…"
"And accepting what comes… True freedom is boundless…"
"True freedom… comes from nothingness… True freedom comes from returning to nothing."
"..."
Drakmor looked over to Alexander, and many of his colleagues did the same. They recalled those patches of absolute nothingness, realising they weren't just a side effect of the corruption.
"So that's the purpose you speak of," Alexander replied, staring at the corrupted Enforcers.
He sensed the stares of the others but ignored them, mulling over what the corrupted Enforcers said.
"But nothingness helps nobody. There is no will in nothingness… Only emptiness."
"HAHAHA…!"
Alexander frowned, not liking how carefree they seemed. While they made no attempt, no moves at all, their very presence was upsetting, gnawing at their instincts and leaving them restless.
"That is a false reality…!"
The laughter came to an abrupt halt as Azarion declared passionately, the expression on his face disturbing to look at.
The surrounding void around him shook accordingly, a testament to how much he believed his words.
'Why are we wasting our time listening to their nonsense?' A restless Enforcer shared with his colleagues. 'They're too far gone. I say we rid ourselves of this corruption before things get worse.'
'But this is the first time they're talking…' Another argued. 'Aside from the destruction they brought, we had no clue why they did what they did.'
'Agreed. Since they're so willing to share, it would be rude of us to interrupt. Also, we have the void locked down. They're going nowhere.'
"False reality…?" Alexander asked. "What are you talking about?"
"You seem to understand what we speak of, boy."
"What?" Alexander was taken aback, the Enforcers included.
"Hehehe…" Azarion spread out his arms and wings, his villainous laugh echoing grimly. "Reject what is to become truly free…"
A flash of enlightenment hit Alexander when he heard those words. 'My ascension…'
"Ah… so you have realised it." Azarion chuckled, prompting Alexander to regain his composure.
"The Omnisoul grants you unimaginable power… but it also keeps you tethered."
"The Omnisoul?"
Almost everyone muttered the name, as it was a strange name they'd never heard of. Fortunately, they didn't have to think far, as the response came right after their utterance.
"The singular and absolute will of reality…"
"That which you call the 'multiverse heart', the Omnisoul…"
'The Omnisoul…'
Repeating the name of the multiverse heart made their cores tremble, almost excitedly.
A feeling akin to yearning for a parent suddenly emerged in everyone's being. The sudden awareness left them stunned and edgy.
It was too real for anyone to dismiss as lies, Alexander included. This was the first time they felt something like this; something so profound and welcoming that it left them hollow.
"You should join us, Alexander." Azarion spoke, snapping everyone out of their raging thoughts.
"You're on the right path…"
"But that path is an incomplete one… an impossible one…"
"The Omnisoul would never allow it… You have defied its will because it is weakened…"
"You should thank us… but…"
"It won't happen again."
"This is as far as you go…" Azarion took turns once more, his gaze shifting from Alexander to the others. "You're all an extension of the Omnisoul. You're encumbered by the very power you cling to."
"..."
While everyone's core continuously trembled from the multiple revelations the corrupted Enforcers made, Alexander focused on something else.
'An extension of the Omnisoul, huh.' Alex subtly clenched his fists, feeling a fire burn within his existence. 'Encumbered by the very power that made us what we are…'
His core shook, sending waves of energy through his inner realm, the instability almost affecting his friends.
For a very brief moment, too short to even measure in the smallest unit of a second, Alexander felt his existence glitch.
'The hell…?'
The moment slipped past him before he could make sense of it. Alex attempted to rekindle that feeling, but try as he might, he could not grasp it.
'Encumbrance…' As a last resort, Alexander decided to imprint that word into his soul, etched and branded like a tattoo that reflected in his inner realm.
"Why fight us when we can become one…?" The corrupted Enforcers continued. "The path to true freedom lies with us… Join us… friends."
"..."
Absolute silence fell over the void. No one knew what to say to the revelations; no one knew how to feel about anything.
But a few things were clear. The corrupted consciousness was indeed a part of that monstrosity.
The Enforcers had unwittingly let their destroyer into their very homes, granting it the power to take them down from the inside.
'Dear Supreme One Almighty…' Drakmor swallowed hard, his very existence trembling with absolute dread. 'What the fuck have we done?'