Alexander saw the hope and desperation in the Enforcers and sighed. "I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do now."
"Now?" An Enforcer echoed.
"I'm no longer part of this reality, and the Omnisoul is severely damaged. The pain you're all going through will linger until everything is put right."
His response made sense, but not everyone was satisfied with that response. Anger burned in the core of some of the Enforcers.
"B-But…" An Enforcer wanted to reason, but quickly switched as anger flared in her. "You said it yourself… this happened because of your actions!"
"Freya!" Drakmor yelled at the Enforcer, warning her to watch her tone.
"No!" Unfortunately for him, the chief known as Freya was not backing down. "The boy has to just put back his universe, and all this will be over!
"Too many lives have been lost already! Does he expect us to live in pain for who knows how long?!"
Drakmor and those who didn't blame Alexander could not refute her words. After all, to them, that was the source of their agonising pain.
They would be lying if they said they didn't wish the same.
The Enforcers might not all be protective of their homes and the lives in their universes, but for those who cared, it was no different than slowly losing their loved ones.
"Freya is right. This is not the same as seeing a universe get destroyed. We can't exist like this."
The surrounding void trembled as several Enforcers unleashed their presence, anger and desperation radiating from their being in waves.
At the same time, those still sensible enough to know the chasm that existed between themselves and the boy, inwardly cursed at the rash actions of their colleagues.
They were prepared to exit the moment things went south. However, looking at Alexander's composed form, they realised the futility of their companions' actions.
The only thing the unleashed cumulative weight of their existence did was cause his cloak and those of his friends to sway around freely, and that too, gently!
'Calm down!' Drakmor roared through their shared connection, but they weren't listening. 'You won't achieve anything by using force!'
Although the Enforcers made no move, they did not withdraw their existential presence, their senses honed in on Alexander and his party.
'Child, what is going on? And why won't this pain fade?'
Before Drakmor could add anything else, multiple voices echoed in his mind. He looked at the others beside him and met their gaze, realising they too were being contacted.
The primordials had awakened from their slumbers. While they never involved themselves in Veilwalker matters, this was not just any matter.
Like the rest of the multiverse, Universe Prime was affected, and the injuries sustained by the primordials from the damage were not small.
They wanted answers.
Instead of replying with long-winding words or intent, the Enforcers opted to use the visual explanation Alexander made for them.
Meanwhile, Alexander calmly observed their actions. Their unleashed auras did nothing to his existence, barely a breeze in passing.
He understood how some of the Enforcers felt. But he couldn't risk it. This time, he was going to be selfish and prioritise his universe.
As for the primordials reaching out to the Enforcers to inquire about the situation, it was more or less expected.
Alexander patiently waited for the Enforcers to attend to the primordials. While he could see the intents flowing through the threads, he held himself back from peering into them.
'Why did they suddenly turn silent?' Ross asked after several seconds of the Enforcers remaining in place.
'The primordials are questioning them.'
'Those lazy guys from Universe Prime?' Julia asked thoughtfully, recalling what her beloved told them about Universe Prime.
'Yep, those 'lazy' guys.' Alexander chuckled at her choice of words, which were technically true. 'They're injured like everyone else.'
'Was that 'thing' that powerful?' Julia couldn't grasp the severity of the situation at hand. And truth be told, none of the others could.
'Very.' Alexander confirmed. 'The chiefs would have never stood a chance against it.'
'Seriously?' This part caught the redhead's attention. Having 'seen' the Enforcers in action, he could somehow understand.
'How would a regular, unawakened person fare against you, Ross?' Alexander posed the question. 'Imagine a regular person against an Immortal.'
'...'
The point finally hit home, the vast chasm making the redhead's eyes widen ever so slightly. That was not even a fair matchup!
'This is crazy!' Julia inwardly exclaimed, subconsciously tightening her hold on Alexander. 'Just how powerful was that thing?!'
'And yet you destroyed it in no time.' On the side, Cassandra pointed out, the ridiculousness of the entire thing lost to her. 'The way I see it, you're the monster, Alexander.'
'Hehe, you're so right!' Julia agreed wholeheartedly, missing the underlying tone in Cassandra's words. 'My Alex is the true Supreme!'
The catwoman, on the other hand, was in her own world. She could no longer make sense of what was going on.
Everything was progressing too fast for her to process. As if her lack of strength and failure to achieve the impossible were not enough, Alexander had transcended all there was.
Being one of the people aware of what phase Alexander intended to reach, and the limitations surrounding it, Cassandra was shocked to find out there were lower levels to rock bottom.
'...'
Alexander had no words to offer to the catwoman. He saw the swirling mass of negative emotions clinging to her body like bad body odour, unwilling to dissipate.
She was on the verge of drowning in her own insecurities.
Although he had severed her connection to the Omnisoul and connected her to his existence, her strength was still the same.
Her status as a Veilwalker, on the other hand...
'What is it you desire, Cassandra?'
'Huh?' The catwoman turned to Alexander, unsure if she heard right.
'What do you want?' Alexander repeated. 'You're drowning yourself in insecurities, Cassandra. What do you wish was different?'
'...'
The catwoman didn't immediately reply, her gaze darting to Julia and Ross.
'Don't worry about them. Only you can hear what I'm saying…' Alexander reassured calmly.
Cassandra had no reason to doubt his words, as Ross's attention was on Alexander and the Enforcers, seemingly in another conversation.
Lowering her head and ignoring everything around her, Cassandra stretched a second for as long as needed, giving herself ample time to consider the question.
Meeting Alexander after reawakening in his universe after that devastating battle was a blessing to her.
Alexander was different in many ways. But the more she learned about him, the more impressive she found him.
But things began to change after he did the impossible — ascending to godhood without his universe core.
It had given her hope, a chance to reach the same heights. But reality was not one to be outdone twice.
She had all the details of how Alexander did it. But letting go of herself was not something that could be done.
Cassandra had no desire to die; she couldn't just let go.
And from the moment this realisation struck her, she knew she could never do it. Even so, she kept trying… She kept hoping something would change.
In all honesty, Cassandra was tired.
She was tired of the fighting, tired of the struggles to grasp reality's working principles, and tired of the mess that was their reality.
Considering everything she had been through, the loss she had endured, Cassandra had always known what she wanted.
'I wish none of this had ever happened.'
Cassandra finally admitted the truth in the core of her being. All she had ever wanted was a normal life, one filled with the joys of mediocre things.
Returning the flow of time to normal, Cassandra focused on Alexander and answered in a resolute tone.
'Being a Veilwalker isn't worth it. All this power, and I still lost everything. I-I wish I were like any normal person, Alexander.'
Alexander sensed the pain in her tone, the despair she had lived with all this time. Despite his efforts, they weren't enough to make her truly belong.
Behind the darkness of her hood, he saw tears stream down her face. The catwoman had really held herself back.
Perhaps all she wanted was for someone to ask how she truly felt about things.
'I-I'm tired, Alex. I really am.' She shared amidst tears and subtle sobs. 'I wish all this were some bad dream I could wake up from!'
Overwhelmed by her emotions, Cassandra let her tears flow freely. Fortunately for her, Alexander had isolated her from the rest of the void.
Multitasking at different temporal flows was but child's play.
To everyone else, Cassandra was patiently waiting for the Enforcers to get their bearings together, barely a second elapsing.
'You want everything that you've lost back.'
'Yes!'
Cassandra exclaimed in a desperate voice, unconsciously unleashing a wave of pressure that would have otherwise shaken the surrounding void.
That declaration seemed to have snapped her out of her emotional, mental and existential breakdown.
'Sorry, Alex. I didn't mean to yell at you.'
'I know.' Alexander waved it off. 'Also, I can make your wish come true.'
'W-What?' The response startled her greatly, as her eyes widened beneath the hood of her cloak.
'There's no rush.' Alexander didn't go into details, deciding to leave everything to her. 'Take your time to envision what you want, and whatever that is, I'll make it happen.'
Cassandra's core trembled at Alexander's words, utterly shaken by their implications!
'D-Did I hear him right?'