A flash of light suddenly flickered in the distant dark ruins of the battlefield of Four cosmos, bursting with power before shooting over with unmatched speed.
That flash of light approached the stone temple in a near-instant; it had soon appeared directly inside the temple. The light shortly died out revealing a figure appearing humanoid with a semi scaled face and curved dragon horns or what remained of them, no doubt this being was an apex existence in any of the four universes the aura exuding off him. However calm this aura seemed to be it was enough to twist space to a light degree subconsciously.
As this figure had arrived, although the strength it had was no doubt matchless, if one looked closer, they would see the countless scars and wounds and even a horn of his had been snapped during previous battles. The individual's face was haggard exhausted their eyes seemingly dazed or more so soulless.
"There is no more life, everything in this existence, but I have passed on. My enemies my friends my family, the trees the birds in the sky the ants in the earth the fish in the oceans the breath of life has ceased not even death remains for there is no more death. Only emptiness and tragic reminiscence with screams of the past".
The creature spoke out, the voice strong yet lacking life. For an existence like this to feel heavy emotions to this point no doubt they had experienced plenty. After he had spoken, he then began to approach the pedestal, yet as a few steps had were taken forward, an invisible wall seemed to block his path.
"Huh?..." he was surprised. He wasn't sure what was going on. He was about to speak, but that strange voice had spoken before him. "There remains Two."
Hearing the voice, the draconic humanoid was stunned his brows furrowed. "Remains two?….. Could it be I…" he then turned around only to see several dozen meters behind him a cloaked individual stood silently watching him.
"That child from many years ago you have grown well. The fuel you have used to reach this point was no doubt something many crave, but in the end, there is nothing left." the cloaked figure uttered.
The draconic humanoid glanced carefully at this individual. First, a trace of surprise followed by fear, confusion, clarity, hatred as his eyes turned bloodshot, then remembering the situation of the universe, this hatred towards this individual subsided.
"Quasar Divinity Zenith. That day you gave me this damn fuel. The anger I feel for you has saved me and allowed me to live from battle to battle working my way up, craving the day when I would find you, I was sad as I heard rumours of you dying in battle after you had never shown up again, to think you would take up hiding like a rodent".
"Zarn'iak if I right? What Divinity title have you chosen?" Zenith asked with curiosity temporarily ignoring the statement made to him. "Title?...does it matter anymore? I'm just me. I am just Zarn'iak. Titles mean nothing anymore. You know neither do names. Nothing matters, only Entropy will remain and us as well as this fucking temple."
Zenith looked carefully at the man in front of him, thoughtful for a moment. "Me hiding? Not at all. I'm just curious. I wanted to ask you well more so whoever made it this far something. I agree regarding the temple. But you know, I am quite curious as to What wish were you hoping to make?"
Zarn'iak began to think for several moments lost in thought somewhat unsure if Zenith was planning to fight with him over it or not. "The wish I wanted to make no longer matters. Those who perish cannot return. What's the point in making a wish? If I want unparalleled strength, it means nothing. If I wish for fortune or fame, It also means nothing. There is nothing. Nothing I want".
Zenith began to think curiously. "Why not wish for life to prosper again?" he suddenly asked. Zarn'iak thought for a few moments than chuckled silently. "There would no doubt come a day where they would encounter what we have; the suffering is more than enough why bother."
"Did you know I encountered the Chrono Divinity Jian from the third universe? Several thousand years ago sitting on a rock just looking straight into the void. At the time, I still had some hope. I asked him to fight me and get it over with. do you know what he did?" Zarn'iak spoke with a trace of surprise, fear and laughter.
Zenith remained silent as he didn't reply, Zarn'iak took this as an opportunity to continue. "He looked at me….shook his head and wished me luck then ignited his soul core. This man whom I had heard legends about, A man who had lived for millions of years, who struggled above hundreds of billions of creature's to reach that strength had ended his own life without care?"
He didn't stop speaking "A creature I wasn't confident I could beat he took his's own life with no hesitation? Why? I don't get What what was the point?...no what is the point!!! Do you know why he did it Zenith!?"
Zenith remained silent; he was thinking. He had been afraid for all the years he had waited here that he would slip up and extend his divine-will out to examine what was happening outside to meet the reality with the horror of destruction that occurred.
Still, even now, he was scared to do so, afraid to experience that endless darkness and ruin. What exactly was going on if Supreme Divinities were finding things pointless and killing themselves despite there being a chance to make a wish from God, he found his choice to begin with correct in hiding.
"I don't…" before Zenith could continue Zarn'iak's face twisted as he roared in anger, causing space to quiver. "LIAR!! You do know…..this isn't a blessing. This wish is a damn curse for whoever makes it."
Zarn'iak continued his tirade "The lives of Four universes, even the most bloodthirsty of beings would feel tired and regretful the thoughts and emotions from remembering such bloodshed is enough to cause mental derangement. He had taken his own life because he knew it was pointless. He chose the correct way out. He wasn't mentally deranged he was experiencing truth in clarity."
Zenith's expression and demeanour hadn't changed after all he was a supreme divinity at the apex as well. "You are right…." Zenith had replied. Zarn'iak scoffed softly. "I am also right to call you a coward. You hid and remained to wait and continue waiting to try to justify your actions wanting to ask what wish the real victor would make."
"You had also already reached the same conclusion. The torment and suffering the killing was too much for you. Choosing the cowards way out but still wanting to sate your curiosity, I spent many years looking for you to kill you but could never find you." Zarn'iak had spoken again.
"Those rumours I knew were lies there isn't anyone in any of those universes who could kill you. The strongest of all Four is also the biggest coward. Hahaha!" Zarn'iak seemed to have gone somewhat insane as he held his head and laughed in a crazed manner.
Zenith looked at him; he had now begun to feel uncomfortable. "You are right. I am a coward. In the past, being a coward would matter. Still, it doesn't matter anymore, what's wrong with choosing to sate my curiosity or not wanting to experience those horrors before making my exit".
Zarn'iak who had crumbled to the floor holding his head as he tried to regain some clarity remained silent. "Tell me…..great Qusar Divinity" he spoke with some sarcasm. "What wish would you make if it was you".
Zenith looked straight at the arm with the closed hand on the pedestal in the centre of the temple, his eyes visible just as soulless as Zarn'iak's he then turned to glance outside the temple, his eyes and his divine sense could extend a universe length and more.
Yet as his Divine sense extended out for the first time in so long what he found was destruction, ruins, corpses, cold nothingness, not one planet intact, not one star shining. Corpses of the weak, corpses of the strong, his eyes gained some clarity from this realisation.
"I would hope every single life that suffered and passed away in this senseless tragedy Will never be a thing of the past if there is life after us. So that someday someone will know we existed" his voice calm. Zarn'iak was surprised by Zenith's answer. His eyes widened for a moment as he thought. "That….is indeed a good wish. Heh, you know what I think I can move on now without regret while also getting my revenge on you…"
Zenith's brows furrowed and he turned around quickly to look at Zarn'iak. Watching Zarn'iak standing up with his face no longer holding that trace of insanity but more so exhaustion and relief as well as excellent clarity. "I still want revenge for what you did but also honestly I wasn't sure what wish I was to make. This is great. I will kill two birds with one stone. An easy way out?... Make your exit? Sorry, there is none of that for you. Zenith This will be your responsibility now" Zarn'iak spoke.
Zenith was stunned he finally understood what he intended to do "Stop, wait!!" he called out, but his words had fallen on death ear's a fear closed in upon him. Zarn'iak stabbed into his own heart and gripped his very Soul Core and crushed it in a straight forward manner. Blood seeped out of the corner of his lips, his ear's, his eyes. He began to fall forward, but a figure flashed over and caught him.
Zenith had caught Zarn'iak's falling body. His face against Zenith's Right shoulder. Gazing blankly at the empty void behind them. "I...was so scared….. but... I'm so happy….Revenge and responsibility...Its...All your's now….That wish…..Of yours...Keep your...Word." Zarn'iak uttered.
Zenith began to panic a little he was afraid right now he felt pity for Zarn'iak "Stupid fool....." this was a fear from the Soul. A latent fear forged from these events engraved into the Core of his existence. Fear of being the only individual left from the smallest of creatures to the strongest.
Zarn'iak gave a forced smile as blood ran down his lips. "Even...you feel fear….interesting….. "Mom….dad….little Weiwei….. I'll fin….ally...get...to…...see…you..ag....ain" his voice began to break and stutter as well as die down bit by bit until the light in his eyes was lost, the same fate as every other creature within the four universes. Only silence remained.
Zenith held the body of the one who had spent much of his life wanting to kill him only the revenge they sought was not a battle but rather who would be quicker to steal the easy cowards way out Zenith had lost. An odd emptiness welled up inside him.
The fear vanished, and realisation moved in, dizziness, his eyes closed than opened somewhat. He laid the corpse of zarn'iak onto his back on the floor. Looking into the dead soulless eyes, he saw the suffering, the hatred, the regret, the anxiety, the fear, and finally the excitement of relief in the end.
"I hope wherever you are in your next life you find peace with your loved ones" his voice spoke out. His face apparent, middle-aged yet wrinkled like an elderly individual, enduring scars of battle he could quickly heal with his level of power. Still, he cared not to there was no point keeping up appearances it went beyond the honour of a scar obtained through battle this was the thought of just not caring about one's body anymore.
Reaching his hands up, he closed the eyes of the corpse and stood up as he sighed, he was tired, but unfortunately, revenge had been taken. Zarn'iak had taken his own life and had punished Zenith by letting him feel that sense of ultimate loneliness the denial of death and the burden of responsibility.
"Make your wish…." the voice of the individual none other then God through the temple it was arrogant and powerful. Zenith's head was spinning at this point, he glanced at the pedestal and watched the clenched hand open to reveal a floating marble pulsing with soft white light, in the centre a spiralling wisp of colours.
He looked at it; the object was five meters away. He began to walk towards it, step by step. He then began to feel heavy. This was the consequence of his actions the burden of responsibility. This was an internal demon, a mental derangement that he had no one but himself to blame. Walking closer and closer, inner voices in his head speaking to him telling him the wishes of the deceased he had heard in his life.
I want to bring back my parents.
I want to be the most powerful.
I want untold riches and fame.
I want to bring back my lover.
I want this bloodshed to end.
I want revenge on him.
I want revenge on her.
I want to live on.