Narrator's POV.
*Hahaha...* Ragged breathing echoes in the silent desert.
"I... I have to find her... even her body will be enough..." Stan muttered frantically, searching through the burning desert sand with almost exhausted energy.
After the explosion caused by one of Stan's theoretical attacks, GIFfany had been carried away by the blast, pierced by the light staff that Stan himself had planted in her.
Hence the current situation: a man in the desert, exhausted, using his last strength to search the sand dunes for a lost ally.
"I've finally found you..." declared Arlecchino, appearing at his side through teleportation.
But she refrained from going further when she saw the scene before her, a sight she would have judged or qualified as "pathetic".
At least... normally.
'Is he really going to lower himself to this for that traitor?' she thought with contempt, unable to understand this biological facet she saw as a weakness in her master.
Her mechanical logic urged her to shrug and wait for time to do its work. After all, time wasn't what they lacked.
Besides, GIFfany could simply be rebuilt. Her memories, or at least a close version, could be recreated using available data. So why this obsession?
Arlecchino didn't really understand her master nor the "sympathy" that seemed to emerge in her as she observed the despair he expressed.
'I should convince master to abandon his biological nature once he has obtained an heir. This flesh... weakens him.'
While Arlecchino was pondering these complex thoughts about man and machine, Stan's broken voice suddenly brought her back to reality.
"I found her... but she's gone..."
Stan held GIFfany's mutilated head and body in his arms. Although her face remained intact and beautiful, her arc reactor had disappeared, leaving her body in an irretrievable state.
Her artificial titan heart, as well as her biological heart designed to mimic that of a witch from the Boiling Isles, were also missing. In short, she had nothing left to keep her alive.
With a trembling hand, Stan gently brushed aside a lock of hair from GIFfany's lifeless face before standing up with his palisman's help as support.
"I don't care if I've been hypocritical and greedy in this life... I don't care if I've made mistakes... I don't care if the world is destroyed because of me... I AM STAN PINES, AND I WON'T ACCEPT THIS FATALITY!"
At first, Arlecchino thought these words were addressed to her. But she quickly understood that Stan was talking to the sky.
'You hear me, God or Author? I won't give up! GIFfany belongs to me now, and I refuse her death! I refuse her rejecting me, refusing to belong to me, or even refusing to share me with other women!'
He knew this mentality went against his usual pacifist philosophy, but he didn't care.
Why should he bow to laws? To ethics? To morals? To logic? Or even to the world itself?
Stan rejected all of that. He didn't care if people saw him as a madman, a dictator, scum, or even a villain.
From now on, he would do whatever necessary to achieve his goals and ensure his happiness.
'I... I never want to feel this pain again.'
Stan brought his remaining hand to his biological heart, but he found nothing there. Just emptiness, a hole caused by this world's injustice and amplified by an unknown irresponsible god.
...
Stan's POV.
"Are you sure?" Terri's nervous voice clearly revealed her doubts about the situation, but I have no choice.
I've wasted too many nanomachines, and my body is in critical condition. I need it to recover quickly.
So, I've decided to return to my original body.
There's no way I'm accepting to enter artificial coma, as Arlecchino suggests. I prefer to regress to advance better.
"Allow me to insist, master, I don't approve of your plan. And why did you refuse the options of biological and magical modifications to your body?" Arlecchino hasn't really backed down from her opinions.
"I'll tell you again *sigh*: I'm going to take a more complex path to strength." I don't plan to disclose Leylin Farlier's and Beelzebub's knowledge.
My original body is currently extremely pure. It's possibly the fittest human on this earth, whether in terms of health or even at the molecular level.
It's perfect for walking the path of a truth seeker.
"*Sigh* And you? Aren't you going to stop the boss?" The only person who hadn't spoken yet was surprised by Terri's sudden words.
"I dunno... as long as I'm getting paid." As Old Man McGucket paused, Terri couldn't help but make a small remark: "Why did I ask this madman's opinion..."
"But sometimes, it's better to evolve on a different path and observe things from a new perspective," added Old Man McGucket in a wise tone, disconcerting everyone.
"Ok, you can return to your body. But how long will it take you to practice your... magus thing?" asked Terri, settling in front of the computer.
"To reach level 7 and officially become a being equivalent to a god... I can do it in a week," I replied after checking Leylin Farlier's knowledge again and the supernatural resources available in Gravity Falls.
Of course, I also took into account the Collector's help, Arlecchino's, and the witches' for my ascension attempt.
This option is the most complex, but also the most effective to raise my existence level itself and "repair" this reality.
Neither Bill nor any cosmic entity will prevent me from completing this "ritual".
.....
Lilith's POV
*Knock knock*
"You can come inside," I said directly to avoid wasting time.
"Sorry for the inconvenience... Lady Lilith, but it's about the Emperor's projects."
Alador Blight, one of the main reasons why the Emperor's coven is currently the most prosperous of all other covens or magical departments (as the Emperor likes to call them).
"No, he's absent." Normally, His Majesty passes through here at least three times a week, but he hasn't shown any sign of life for a while.
I admit being a bit worried, but given his great power, there are no entities capable of harming him on earth.
"I see... I just wanted to inform him that the magical technology allowing the creation of a virtual world for children to study longer is complete."
Before continuing, Alador glanced around us before speaking in a low voice:
"Also tell him that I've managed to complete the VR Diablo games with sensory synchronization for coven members only."
I nodded with satisfaction: a major project desired by His Majesty is finally complete. This will allow training coven members without risking their lives.
Witches need to test their spells in real situations after all.
"I'll send your money soon. I'm sure the Emperor will be happy with this news."
As I smiled with satisfaction, a portal suddenly opened.
"Emperor... is that you?" I said, sensing a familiar energy.
Before the portal stood a figure about 2 meters tall, wearing strange imposing armor.
(Image)
It was surely a new invention from this "science" that humans practice on Earth. However, there was something more urgent than this strange and imposing armor.
The Emperor's magic had gradually weakened since our last meeting. Although its quantity was superior to mine or other coven chiefs', it's far from matching its peak.
I doubt ordinary witches can notice it, but for coven chiefs, it's a different story altogether.
"I'll explain the details during the meeting, but for now... I need you to mobilize the entire Emperor's coven, we are at war," he said in a serious tone.