The insect-like vehicle sped across the Tarsis Plateau. The barren expanse was now dominated by the silhouettes of these insect swarms.
As time slowly passed, the plateau stretched out behind them, and they entered a fractured terrain known as the "Maze of Eternal Night."
The metallic insect that carried them adeptly climbed the broken terrain. It was only now that Hades understood the utility of such a vehicle. Any other conventional vehicle would have found it impossible to navigate this landscape.
After enduring what felt like an endless series of jolts, Hades, seated within the insect's cavity, felt the vehicle begin to slow.
He glanced at Makado. Since boarding, Makado had been deeply furrowed in thought, as if facing a formidable foe. Psychic energy occasionally swirled around him.
Aware of his own unique constitution, Hades dared not approach Makado too closely. Although he had many questions about himself to ask Makado, now clearly wasn't the time.
The giant insect came to a gradual stop, releasing cooling steam from its body.
The door opened, and Koli'er Zexi, with his pale blue eyes, looked at Makado, "We have arrived, my lord."
Makado slowly opened his eyes, glancing at Hades, "Let's go."
The elder began to move, with Hades following closely behind.
Stepping out of the vehicle, Hades was astonished to see that they had stopped in front of a deep cavern entrance. Within the dark abyss, something seemed to shimmer.
Without hesitation, Makado entered the cave.
Swallowing hard, Hades followed. He recognized this place.
The Dragon was here.
The shard of the Star God, the Void Dragon, a being with knowledge of the entire physical universe, imprisoned within the Eternal Night Maze on Mars by the Emperor.
But Hades didn't understand why he was brought here.
Was he to become the guardian of the Dragon? To watch over the Void Dragon?
As their figures disappeared into the cave, Koli'er Zexi glanced at them and then directed the insect vehicle to cover the entrance.
No one would notice an entrance concealed amidst the labyrinthine terrain of the Maze of Eternal Night.
The wind blew, and the sun shone brightly.
"Hades."
Makado moved agilely through the tunnels, deftly weaving through the translucent stalactites, a nimbleness that belied his stature.
"Yes?"
Hades tried to keep up, but his larger frame made it difficult in places where Makado easily passed. He had to find alternative routes.
"Do you regret it?"
"Regret what?"
"Coming here."
"To Mars?"
"No, to this world!"
Makado frowned, seemingly displeased with Hades's slow comprehension.
Hades was taken aback, recalling Makado once calling him an "outsider." Had Makado encountered others like Hades before?
Deciding to be honest, Hades replied, "Of course I regret it!"
"Can you send me back?"
"No," Makado answered decisively.
Then why bring it up?
"I ask you, do you regret everything you've actively done so far?"
Hades remained silent.
For a long time, they navigated silently through the maze of stalactites and stalagmites, which glowed eerily, as if semi-solid living organisms were trapped within.
As they carefully crossed a crystalline bridge, Hades finally spoke, "To say I have no regrets would be a lie. I couldn't save many."
Herila.
"Of course, I've made mistakes."
"But looking back now, I know I can't save everyone."
"I've done my best."
The elder nodded, "He indeed chose you."
Makado paused before continuing, "I know you've seen fate."
"But let me tell you, fate is like a book in a library. You've only read one."
"Fate is ever-changing. Nothing is absolute."
"You try to change fate, to remove a stone from your path."
"But that might mean uncovering a hidden snake."
"Even the wisest cannot predict the outcome of changing fate."
"In trying to change fate, in trying to intervene in this world, you might die horribly,"
"You might be transformed into an eternal piece of flesh, living in agony."
"You might be betrayed by your own people, crucified on a cliff."
"You might be tortured by a madman, imprisoned in a cage."
"Even if you die quickly, the changes you bring will profoundly impact this world."
Makado continued, his voice like a curse, "You might plunge a planet into destruction, causing billions to die because of you."
"You might turn brothers against each other, ignite wars."
"You might drive an entire legion to madness, beyond redemption."
Finally, Makado stopped. A strange glow was visible ahead.
He turned to Hades, his small stature now seeming monumental.
Golden light surrounded Makado, his eyes locked onto Hades, "Or let me give you a simpler example,"
"Even with all your efforts, the fate of the Death Guard isn't as clear as you think."
"Betrayal or loyalty, life or death, no one knows until the game is set."
"Your efforts might be in vain. You might die trying."
"Or worse, your efforts might have the opposite effect."
"So now, it's not too late to regret."
"You can regret your past actions and give up everything. I can arrange a quiet bureaucratic job on an obscure planet for you to live out your days."
"Or you can join us, be part of a backup plan, and die on this path." Hades swallowed hard.
He... he really wanted to choose the first option.
After all, in his past life, he was just an ordinary person.
But now, after experiencing this world, after everything with Barbarus, after everything with the 14th Legion, could he really choose that option with a clear conscience?
Could he really leave everything behind when humanity was on the brink of an abyss?
Moreover, he was already here.
Turning back now, after coming this far, just didn't feel right.
Hades finally spoke, his voice hoarse, "I've come this far."
Makado looked at him with a complex expression but eventually looked away.
"Very well." Together, they stepped into the light.
Blinding white light enveloped them. They were in a hall made of geometric shapes. Colorful scrolls were haphazardly stuck to the walls. Red beams supported the hall, and countless pieces of experimental equipment were scattered around.
In a secluded part of the hall, there was a narrow tunnel, faintly glowing red, seemingly leading to the heart of Mars.
A man stood in the center of the hall, holding a large sword. His weary face bore a tightening twin-winged emblem on his forehead.
"The Dragon's Guardian, Simon," Makado introduced the man to Hades.
Simon didn't speak. He approached, and Makado waved his hand in the air, his sigils glowing.
After inspecting them, Simon bowed and retreated.
Before leaving, he turned off the hall's lights. The dim hall was now illuminated only by the red glow from the side tunnel.
Hades followed Makado towards it.
"This is one of the few things I can do for you," Makado sighed.
"After this, we can't offer or guide you in any
way. But both of us know what you're about to face."
"Good luck."
Golden light erupted!
The hunched elder was suddenly enveloped in a blinding golden psychic energy, exerting a pressure that made Hades feel like he couldn't stand straight.
It was the Emperor's psychic energy!
Makado, burning like a fierce torch, his withered body ablaze, seemed to be overlaid with the Emperor's psychic silhouette. He reached out, and with a sudden force, pushed Hades into the deep tunnel.
"Seek the wisdom of the Dragon."
"This is but a dream. Just follow it, and you'll wake up in the end."
Hades felt himself plummeting.
"What will I encounter?"
He shouted.
"Everything you can't comprehend!"
Makado, or perhaps the Emperor, shouted back from the receding entrance,
"All the absurdities!"
And so, Hades fell, descending into the Dragon's dream.