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Chapter 22 - Chapter 22 - Home

Jeor and his crew just watched as the woman was literally born from the planet. Jeor wondered if this was what Adam meant by his prior words. He did not know what this race was, but for them to be born from the planet itself, they were definitely powerful. Even the weakest among them would definitely be a match for the most powerful heroes of other races.

This was the difference of innate racial talents and powers. Fortunately, Jeor did not know that Adam and Evelyn were actual living planets rather than just being born from planets or else he might have already collapsed in fear for his life.

Adam did not want to leave on a journey so soon after returning home. He also wanted to celebrate Evelyn's awakening which meant more to him than he initially thought. He never realised how difficult it had been for him to be moving alone, burdened with only the thought of survival to keep him company.

With Evelyn, he felt the invisible weight lift. He felt as though he could actually now live to enjoy his life rather than slave away for the sake of surviving.

He looked around the Solar System, his home. There were other celestial bodies here besides himself and Evelyn, but he had no intention of turning them into Mundi nor devouring them. At least, not yet.

For now, he wanted to explore his home, see the sights that he never had the chance to see. He may be a planet himself, but that did not mean he was not curious of other planets. So he took Evelyn's hand as they headed for their first destination, Evelyn's main body.

"So beautiful. You're way more beautiful than me. It's good that you don't need to deal with the pests who ruin your beauty."

Adam was absolutely enamoured by the Moon. If she was like a precious jewel before, then she was a literal sanctuary of natural treasures now. The only living things on the Moon were vegetation, but this alone had transformed her so grandly that it was almost impossible to reconcile her current appearance with her previous one as a satellite.

The blades of grass on the plains were a beautiful silver, shimmering as they bent with the passing breeze. The trees' trunks were also of a light shade of silver, their branches stretching out beautifully, showing off their leaves that resembled snowflakes. The rivers, lakes and seas were just like the waters of Earth, emanating a potent aura of life. Clearly, this was a result of the Vitacor's vitality enriching her.

Evelyn smiled proudly as she looked at her main body. She could barely remember the time when her surface was just a barren land, devoid of all life. She was just a satellite, just a lump of rock meant to reflect the light of the Sun.

But now, she had her own core. She could sustain life as well. She was also evolving into a star that would be even more beautiful than the Sun, casting her own light upon the dreary black of space. And all this was thanks to Adam who wanted her to be his companion even in his new life.

"I once reflected the light of the Sun for you. Now, it shall be your light that I reflect onto the Universe."

She swore an oath using whatever authority she was still grasping to wield. And as though acknowledging her Will, the Universe responded by creating a new title for her. She saw it reflected on her main body before she even received the notification from the system.

The silvery hue of the landscape changed, gradually losing colour into something resembling both a mirror and a clear glass. Evelyn could feel that this was not an addition of anything, but rather a minor evolution catalysed by the Universe to bring out the qualities already within her in compliance to her oath. Adam was shocked by the sudden change when both he and Evelyn received a notification.

[Evelyn Terra has obtained the title: Prisma Mundi]

[Prisma Mundi: You have chosen your path. To reflect the light of another rather than your own is an immense sacrifice, but only you can determine whether it is worth everything you could have had. You have tied your path to another's. Will you rise together and shine Eternal Light upon all Creation? Or will you fall together to the embrace of Endless Cold?]

When Evelyn saw the description for her new title, she smiled wryly. Was the Universe asking her to choose? Joining Adam or gaining power of her own, why must they be mutually exclusive? Why does her frost need to thaw to reflect his light that she helped create? He was not fire that would melt her ice. His glory would be hers as well.

Evelyn had already made her decision, and she did not care what the Universe thought of it. Even if it said that she aimed for the impossible, how much credit could it have when literal planets were now living and gaining power like any other lifeform?

Evelyn and Adam were the very embodiment of impossibility. And just like what Adam had been doing, Evelyn aimed to build their legacy over and through many more impossibilities.

Meanwhile, Adam quickly became sombre. His initial joy at seeing Evelyn's main body had been quickly replaced by suspicion and brewing anger. It was not directed toward Evelyn, but toward the Universe instead.

This was the second time that the Universe had tried to pit him and Evelyn against each other. The first was when Evelyn became a Nascent World through his power and became the Matriarch of the Anima Mundi.

[Matriarch of the Anima Mundi: Born from the fervent desire of the Progenitor, you are now the mother of your race. You share in the burden of responsibility of spreading your legacy while also having your own path in the Universe.]

Back then, Adam was not certain about what the Universe meant. He thought that Evelyn had the option to abandon their race and just grow independently or that she could also challenge him for rulership of the Mundi.

But now, he was certain. For some reason, the Universe was trying to get both of them to antagonise each other. He did not understand why, especially after the system told him that he was an Envoy of the Universe.

Did such a designation mean so little?

Was it not as important as he thought?

Could it have been a mistake to trust the Universe?

Adam did not know the answer to the first question, but he certainly knew the answer to the second. It was definitely a mistake to believe that the Universe was on his side just because it called him its Envoy.

Now, his constant evolutions seemed more like an orchestrated plan by the Universe itself. He felt like a guinea pig being experimented on. And in his opinion, that was worse than being a slave.

Adam turned to look beside him and found Evelyn staring at him in worry. Because of her chosen path, their Binary trait had been strengthened. It now allowed them to feel each other's emotions. Perhaps in the future, it would even let them understand each other's thoughts. But for now, Evelyn could feel the anger in Adam. She knew it was not directed at her, but she was the cause of it.

Adam hugged her to reassure her that there was no problem. appeasing her mind of the worries that had no place in this moment of celebration they should be having.

He quickly pushed his thoughts on the matter to the back of his mind, planning to tell Evelyn later. For now, he wanted her to enjoy her moment. She had technically just been born after all. He did not want her worrying too much.

More importantly, the sudden change to her main body had just concluded and it made her look even more fantastical. Her second body also soon followed. Her icy white skin now seemed to glimmer with light. And if she willed it, she could become like clear glass.

The two spent the next few hours just wandering the Solar System, visiting each of the planets to see what was unique about them. Once they were satisfied, they returned to the ship where they would prepare for the journey that Adam had already planned for.

It was the true start of their lives, a journey to march way past the tides of apocalypses that will inevitably come. It would surely be difficult, but that was why there were two of them. Together, all challenges can be surmounted. 

However, unbeknownst to the two living planets, the mysteries surrounding their existence had only just begun unveiling themselves. As the Universe watched them closely, following their endeavours through their home galaxy, another had already found its way deep into the Universe.

It was a strange power that could not be defined through any conventional means. It was a power that simply did not and should not exist within any Universe for such powers were an infringement upon the authority of the Universe itself.

That was why they were so powerful.

And the beings who wield such powers are a Testament to this.