Once you have the book in hand, you open it and the raw power from the book explodes around you, sending shockwaves throughout the tower that knocks everybody on the ground except for Aatu. Your eyes turn black once again and you begin floating in the air while the Valghuli quickly scramble to get up before you can use the book. As the pages turn rapidly, your perception heightens to the point where everything is moving in slow motion and you see every possible outcome of the fight between you and these 20 Valghuli and the infinite results of your infinite decisions that you can make against them. You feel an incredible sorrow and responsibility as you watch the outcomes where Mimi or the Gods in the tower die, so you take care to ensure each decision you make using the book keeps your friends alive.
The first thing you do is encapsulate Mimi and Elise in a Rosium box that immediately protects them from the several attacks of the Valghuli that aim to kill them. You watch the impossible outcomes from that decision disappear before analyzing the infinite other potential outcomes that can result from your next action. Next, you do the same for Sir Gerard and Reylesh, who then survive the several attacks aimed at them as well. The book shows you that Aatu was never in any real danger and he's the only one not slowed down by the book, then you turn around and watch him simply backhand slap one of the Valghuli that's attempting to attack him, sending it flying across the room. After watching the impossibilities disappear, you go on the attack, materializing Rosium spikes that shoot out of the ground that impale all of the Valghuli, lifting them off the ground before stabbing several more Rosium spikes out of their physical forms in all directions.
Once the Valghuli are immobilized and hanging in the air with spikes driven into their chests and backs with their feet dangling, the Valghuli leave the bodies of their hosts and you watch the corpses of the mortals that they possessed immediately disappear into nothingness. You close the book, and your perception returns to normal as everyone else who you just saved slowly realizes what just happened all in the blink of an eye. Reylesh shakes her head in disbelief before talking about it.
" Did I really just see 20 Valghuli in this universe or was that some sort of illusion? "
" It was no illusion, sister. I couldn't believe my eyes at first as well, but it appears that they're pulling out all of the stops to wear us down. "
Aatu says as he continues to protect the kingdom with his powers without looking as he turns towards you and speaks in a proud tone.
" That was impressive, Abbadon. I'm surprised how quickly you've become proficient with the book. How are you feeling? "
You stuff the book back into your robes and take a deep breath as you respond.
" I'm a little fatigued, but other than that I'm alright. I can still use it if needed. "
Aatu peers at you with a glimmer in his eye as he responds to you.
" Good. Just remember not to expend too much of your strength. "
You nod your head in acknowledgement before you're caught off guard by more screaming coming from the kingdom below. You follow Aatu and Reylesh, quickly approaching where Sir Gerard is standing to look out into the kingdom where you see the same Valghuli that you just defeated have possessed the physical forms of 20 more mortals, hunting down and executing your forces effortlessly. More and more people in the kingdom become possessed until the Valghuli number in the hundreds, destroying the border wall in several different locations to assist the cultists' infiltration and slaughtering any Morian soldier or citizen who isn't possessed.
" What are we going to do about these Valghuli? If Abbadon keeps using the book to kill them, he's not going to have enough strength to fight The None… Even if we manage to kill them all, they'll just continue possessing the people in the kingdom until everybody's dead. "
Reylesh says in a desperate and defeated tone. You look out into the kingdom to see that the majority of Moriarch's forces are dead and there may be a couple hundred thousand Morain soldiers remaining at most. Moriarch's numbers continue to dwindle fast along with the succubi and stone warriors that are trying to protect Moriarch's people as the Valghuli effortlessly wipe them out.
Aatu stands there using his power to protect the kingdom from the tens of thousands of weaponized vehicles that continue their bombardments from the land and air while he simultaneously disintegrates the Tarragons that get too close to the tower at a subatomic level. Looking down over the kingdom with empathy, he silently watches the good men, women and children of Moriarch get brutally murdered by the overwhelming number of cultists and Valghuli. Buildings are burning and innocents are screaming as this massacre ruins the beauty and grandiosity of this once great kingdom, and you can tell that he knew this was going to happen. You catch an uncharacteristic glimpse of pity in his eyes as he leaves Reylesh's question unanswered.
Reylesh looks at you anxiously, almost like she's seen a ghost or something.
" I've never seen him like this before… I hate to say this, but this must be how he saw Moriarch's end… "
Sir Gerard chimes in, speaking in a defeated but noble tone.
" We fought and died for the right cause. That's everything a true Morian could ever ask for. "
There's a moment of silence as the four of you stare out onto the battlefield, watching the enemy forces absolutely decimate what's left of Moriarch's population. Roary and the King are breathing hard and they're moving sluggishly, continuing to give their all as they do their best to protect the castle, and you can see that they're both straining from exhaustion as they continue fighting against increasingly overwhelming odds.
" Mana is at 2%... "
One of the royal guards says in a hopeless tone as he approaches Sir Gerard and looks down at the King and Roary who are barely holding on. Mimi and Princess Elise then approach as well, and Mimi gives you a hug. Tears begin to run down Princess Elise's face as she cries, looking down at her father who's bound to fall to the enemy forces and die at any moment.
" Without the use of Mana, my father can no longer fight… Someone please… Please do something to save him! "
Elise pleads in a desperate tone as she grabs Aatu by his suit, bawling her eyes out. Aatu remains unmoved with a blank stare as the Princess tugs on his suit before Sir Gerard steps forward and grabs her. She buries her face in his armor as she weeps, and Mimi, seeing that the Princess is in shambles, begins to get upset. Mimi then looks up at you with tears in her eyes as she pleads to you.
" Star Faller, I know you're super strong… You can save him, right? With your superpowers, I know you can find a way to save the day… "
Looking down at Mimi, you're reminded of your last conversation with Rosie when you were laying with her in Ariel's rose garden and she was crying in your arms. You then hear your promise to your late daughter echoing within your head.
" I promise, Rosie… I promise that no matter what, I'll always be here for you and do whatever it takes to save you. "
Your eyes begin to water as you look down at Mimi, seeing Rosie's face in hers as you think about how The One created her as a reflection of the daughter that you lost long ago, and you desperately begin brainstorming some sort of solution to the dilemma that you're currently faced with.
Reylesh is right. If you keep defeating these Valghuli, they're just going to move from host to host until every mortal that's fighting for Moriarch is dead. You need to find a way to prevent the people of Moriarch from getting possessed… If Tom was here, he'd know what to do…
You immediately begin to recall everything that Tom told you regarding Valghuli and what they are, and one quote from Tom in particular sticks out to you the most. It was when you were both back in Havnahm before you regained your memories and he was telling you about The None. You recall his words to you and they echo within your mind.
" A Valghul first appears by possessing a mortal who knows of The None's existence. It can happen to anyone, and only one Valghul appears within a universe at a time. As soon as a mortal thinks about The None, they become a potential host for a Valghul. All mortals who know of the Omniverse are susceptible to having nightmares about The None, which is usually how he plants a seed within their minds at first… "
That's… that's it! Tom said that Valghuli only possess those who know of The None's existence!