Beneath the boundless Starry Sky, Lucas and the Universe stood face to face, while NOX remained fixated on corrupting the [Nothingness].
"We've come too far to turn back now. The only mercy I can offer is to end this quickly… to ease your pain." Lucas spoke solemnly, his gaze locking onto NOX. The latter merely nodded in silent agreement. Despite their descent into mass genocide and destruction—driven by an unshakable purpose—they refrained from treating their mother as an enemy.
Lucas extended his hand, and in an instant, radiant light erupted from his palm, illuminating the void. From this brilliance, an army of angels emerged, their majestic wings unfurling like a cascading tide of divinity. Millions descended, kneeling in rigid hierarchical formation, exuding the disciplined aura of battle-hardened soldiers. Even the smallest among them towered at twelve meters in height.
At the forefront stood five beings distinct from the rest—angels of unique and unfathomable forms. One bore eight golden wings, its very body resembling a colossal eyeball, encircled by seven smaller orbs that pulsated with celestial energy. Another was a monstrous chimera, a fusion of divine and eldritch entities, its form defying the very laws of creation.
Yet, amidst this unfolding spectacle, NOX remained engrossed in his singular obsession—corrupting [Nothingness]. He resembled a mad scientist, utterly enthralled by the scope of his own experiment.
Unbeknownst to him, his own shadow had begun to stir. It stretched outward, seeping into the void like a living abyss. From its depths, six serpentine entities slithered into existence, their ink-black bodies emerging with eerie hisses that reverberated through the cosmic silence. Though slightly smaller than NOX himself, these serpents exuded an essence identical to his own.
Their forms flickered between solidity and smoke, their scales shimmering like void-forged obsidian. They coiled around NOX, their hisses brimming with reverence, as though whispering forgotten truths of the abyss. Each serpent bore a distinctive set of eyes, ranging from one to six, adding to their cryptic and unsettling presence.
Without a word from NOX or Lucas, the gathered angels and serpents vanished—their purpose clear: to erase everything within the universe, leaving only silence and ruin behind. As they departed, they left behind only the Universe, its very essence weighed down by grief, and the two figures at the heart of this devastation.
The Universe did not resist. It had given up.
From the edges of the cosmos, the Abominations stirred. They marched forth, devouring all in their path, while within, the angels and serpents began their unrelenting ruination.
Amidst this descent into annihilation, NOX's attention was abruptly drawn to his own shadow. His expression darkened in confusion, only for his eyes to widen in profound disbelief.
From the depths of his shadow, a one-eyed serpent emerged—his youngest.
The little creature slithered forth, playful and innocent, much like a mischievous child seeking attention. Without hesitation, it teleported to NOX's side, rubbing affectionately against his face, its hisses carrying an unmistakable joy.
A deep chuckle escaped NOX's lips. He reached out and gently patted the small serpent's head.
"Did you stay behind just to check on me? To see if I'm alright?" he asked, his tone laced with rare warmth.
The young serpent—Yathora—nodded eagerly, her single golden eye gleaming with curiosity.
NOX sighed, his fingers tracing the ridges of her obsidian scales. These six serpents… they were all he had left. His only true family. The very essence of his power. They resided within his heart—both literally and metaphorically. They were him, in a sense, inseparable from his existence.
No force in the universe could truly destroy them. Not unless they first destroyed NOX himself.
NOX's features softened as he regarded her. "Do you believe I can succeed?" he asked, the question a rare moment of vulnerability amidst the overwhelming storm of fate.
Yathora tilted her head, her tiny form coiling around him with unrestrained affection.
"MM… You will, Father," Yathora replied earnestly. "Big sister Vayora said so." Her small form coiled around him in a tender embrace.
Gazing toward a distant, trembling horizon, NOX allowed a wistful smile to play upon his lips. "Very well," he said, his voice quiet yet firm. "I'm fine now. Go play with your sisters," he said, patting her lightly. "It's about to get dangerous."
But Yathora hesitated.
Her tiny tongue flickered, tasting the air, her defiance apparent in her stance.
"No… Father, I want to fight too! I want to help!" she declared, puffing up in an attempt to look imposing.
NOX couldn't help but chuckle. Her bravery was both endearing and reckless.
He loved his children. Perhaps too much, indulging their whims beyond reason.
But the opponents he faced now were not mere adversaries. They were beings so terrifying that even the legendary Sword God had only managed to wound them with his strongest strike. He could not risk exposing his daughters to such unknown horrors.
With a sigh, NOX smacked Yathora's head lightly, "You should listen to your father," he scolded gently. Then, with a teasing smirk, he added, "Or should I tell your big sister about this?"
At the mere mention of Vayora, Yathora froze. A visible shudder ran down her spine, as though recalling something utterly terrifying.
"Father, you're so mean!" she pouted, turning away with exaggerated indignation. "I won't talk to you anymore!"
With a dramatic flick of her tail, she leapt away, her form vanishing into the distance.
"Hmph!" She huffed, casting a few petty curses at NOX as she went.
He sighed, watching her departure with fond exasperation. His youngest was a handful, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
But his amusement faded quickly.
In mere seconds, his focus returned to the space crack, his mind sharpening with singular intent. He was on the verge of corrupting not only [Nothingness] but also the very 'source' responsible for its existence.
A tremor of excitement surged through him. His pseudo-Concept, [Madness Incarnate], had reached a critical threshold. It was no longer just an imitation. He could feel it—the moment when it would fully evolve into a true Concept, one that would reshape everything in ways even he had yet to fully comprehend.
Lucas had perceived the energy seeping from the space crack as nothing more than pure void, dismissing it without much thought. However, NOX was irresistibly drawn to it, his fascination teetering on the edge of obsession and insatiable curiosity.
As Lucas and even the all-knowing Universe delved into deep conversation, they remained oblivious to the subtle shift in NOX's aura, completely absorbed in their own dialogue.
"I hope you understand that the likelihood of your success is exceedingly slim," the Universe remarked, her tone carrying the weight of ageless wisdom and quiet caution. No matter how much pain a child may bring to his mother, her intentions always stem from a place of love.
"As NOX divined our Luck, Providence, Fate, and Predestination, it appears our chance of success is a mere 0.0001%," Lucas stated solemnly. "According to NOX, it might increase... if 'someone' decides to make their move."
"You mean those mindless abominations?" the Universe asked.
"I don't know." Lucas's voice held uncertainty. "To be honest, I'm not even sure how destroying those lifeforms would prevent the upcoming destruction phase of this universe."
"Both of you have truly gone mad," the Universe said, her expression unreadable. "Are you really willing to go this far for a chance of success so minuscule?"
Lucas could only offer a wry smile at her words, finding himself equally speechless in the face of their audacious endeavor.
"Mother," Lucas murmured, his voice distant, "when NOX and I reached the pinnacle of power, even the so-called Gods cowered at the sight of our frowns, while mortals prayed to us as if we were salvation itself. But you know the price we paid to stand here... especially NOX."
Lucas exhaled deeply, as if recalling a memory that refused to fade. His gaze darkened. "Perhaps if I were in his place, I might have done something even worse than succumbing to madness."
"When we discovered that we could not travel back in time to save our families, we were devastated. But we clung to the hope that if we could transcend this universe, we might grow strong enough to shatter the shackles of time—the very chains keeping us from happiness."
He lifted his gaze, a hollow chuckle escaping his lips. "But fate is truly unkind."
"We then realized that this universe is a prison—an inescapable one. No one can leave, no matter how powerful they become."
"Can you imagine the despair we felt at that moment?"
"Each year that passed since then felt no different from solitary confinement—the same crushing loneliness that mortal prisoners endure, trapped within four walls. But we endured it, determined to reach the power needed to shatter the barriers of this prison."
"But just as we dared to hope, we learned the bitter truth—this universe is on the verge of its [Nirvana]."
He shook his head, his voice carrying a mixture of sorrow and bitter amusement.
Lucas's sorrow twisted into a self-mocking laugh, a sound laced with resignation and cruel irony.
"Mother, you must know… if we allow you to enter this [Nirvana], we will never have the chance to revive our families. It means the past itself will be erased in the destruction phase of your rebirth."
Hearing Lucas' words, the Universe fell silent.
She knew what NOX and Lucas had endured. Lucas had lost his family, yet the world had still shown him kindness, shaping him into a benevolent and compassionate soul. But when NOX lost everything, he was met with nothing but cruelty, driving him down the [Path of Madness] and leaving him no choice but to become a Devil.
Lucas snapped out of his past memories, his expression darkening as if something unsettling resurfaced in his mind. He turned to the Universe. "But why aren't you trying to stop us? It feels as though you're not even making an attempt," he asked coldly, a hint of vigilance in his tone.
Having spent most of his time with the Universe, he and NOX understood her better than anyone else. Under her watch, no transgression went unpunished. Despite her limited control over individual power, she possessed the ability to strip even gods and rulers of their abilities.
And being schemed against by the Universe was something no one could endure. If she had truly wanted to interfere, she would have set a countermeasure in place long before NOX and Lucas were even born. No one could escape her designs once she decided to act.
Yet here she was, engaging in casual conversation, showing no inclination to protect her children—whether mortal or divine—let alone to stop them. Lucas found her behavior unsettling, a nagging suspicion creeping into his mind that there was something else at play.
"Relax, I don't intend to stop you. In a way, I am responsible for turning NOX, once so bright, into that monstrosity. Besides, would I have even succeeded if I tried? I have no desire to do something so…" The Universe's voice trailed off abruptly as her expression turned grim, her gaze fixated on the distant horizon as she frowned.
"NO, NO, NO, NO… WHY… WHY ARE THEY HERE? WHY ARE THEY HERE?" The Universe muttered in frantic panic the moment her gaze fell upon VRITRA and Garuda among The Abominations.
Despite the relentless devastation wrought by Lucas' army and NOX's serpents—forces that had already consumed nearly seventy percent of the universe—she had remained composed, untouched by fear. Yet the instant she saw VRITRA and Garuda, something within her shattered. Her calm façade crumbled, giving way to an overwhelming wave of dread.
Up until now, she had completely failed to sense their presence—a mistake so profound that it left her shaken to her core. The mere thought of what their arrival meant filled her with unrelenting horror.
Lucas was momentarily baffled. A moment ago, she had shown no desire to stop them, yet now, she acted as if she were witnessing her own impending demise. But before he could question her, their horror and confusion were abruptly cut short.
A menacing fluctuation of terrible red energy began creeping toward them, slow and deliberate, as though seeking to corrupt and dissolve all in its path. Instinctively, they withdrew, distancing themselves without hesitation.
Frowning in unison, Lucas and the Universe attempted to scrutinize the red energy. The moment their [Intent] made contact with it, an unbearable, maddening pain exploded through their skulls, as if their very minds were being split apart. The agony left them wishing for relief, for even the barest moment of reprieve.
Then, through the crimson mist, a silhouette emerged.
A lone figure, its presence suffocating.
Horns protruded from its head, barely visible through the haze of corruption.
And as its form became clearer, Lucas and the Universe instinctively steeled themselves for battle.