The silhouette within the crimson energy slowly emerged. It was NOX. Upon his emergence from the mist, the Universe and Lucas exhaled in relief, recognizing this transformation as a familiar one—his former pseudo-Concept, [Agent of Madness].
However, their relief was short-lived. Their gazes locked onto the dark horns protruding from NOX's head and the cracks resembling stone fissures marring his skin.
Despite their astonishment, they refrained from commenting, suppressing their curiosity. At this moment, they refused to even breathe too loudly in his presence.
They understood that this altered NOX was driven purely by [Madness]. His once-rational mind had been twisted beyond recognition, his concept of reason so distorted that he might corrupt them simply for his own amusement.
As madness consumed what remained of his logic, the deranged, creepy laughter remained plastered on NOX's face. Some might mistake this version of him for an alter ego, but they would be wrong. He was still the same NOX—only more devilish, unhinged, and absolute.
"He's gotten stronger again," Lucas remarked.
"A… a complete Concept? How is that even possible?" the Universe gasped, her voice filled with disbelief, unwilling to accept what she was witnessing.
Lucas merely sensed NOX's formidable aura, but The Universe observed a far more chilling reality. She perceived that at the quantum level, physical laws and even matter itself were being passively corrupted. Even the vibrational strings of atoms succumbed to NOX's mere presence, indicating that NOX had attained a perfect and complete 'Concept'. This was in stark contrast to his previous "pseudo concept," wherein he had to rely on transformation and malevolent energy, which came with significant drawbacks.
'This isn't how things were supposed to be… Why is there such a massive deviation from the predetermined path?' the Universe questioned herself, unease gripping her very existence.
It was undeniably the darkest day for the Universe. Despite her near-omniscience and boundless authority, she had been plunged into a maelstrom of emotions and shocks, all within the span of a single day.
In an instant,
NOX's instincts screamed at him to evade, to react—yet he remained still, as if anticipating the imminent threat.
Suddenly, a VAJRA—a silver-hued weapon, shaped like a thunderbolt with tridents on both ends—hurtled toward his head from out of nowhere. The velocity of the weapon was so swift that even The Universe failed to perceive its approach.
Yet, just inches away from NOX, it stalled.
Thwarted by an invisible force, its energy dissipated into nothingness, as if erased from existence itself.
NOX pondered the mysterious turn of events, his brow furrowed in contemplation, as he gazed into the distance, seemingly welcoming his 'unexpected' guests with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"Greetings, Chosen Clowns! We have come to help!" A voice rang out, deep and mocking.
From the distance, VRITRA emerged, accompanied by Garuda and The Abominations.
VRITRA, no longer in his serpentine form, now stood as a handsome man with long, tied blue hair and piercing eyes—blue as the deepest abyss of the ocean. His very presence seemed to erase physical laws and unravel matter around him. To any who dared oppose him, he was absolute dread incarnate—for there was no matter around him to even carry an attack.
VRITRA, no longer in his serpentine form, now took the appearance of a handsome man with long, tied blue hair and piercing blue eyes, reminiscent of the calm stillness of the ocean. His very presence seemed to erase physical laws and matter itself. This formidable sight would strike dread into any who dared to confront him, for there was no matter around him to carry forth any attack.
"Hmm..." VRITRA looked at both Lucas and NOX with a dissatisfied expression. "Holding your heads a little high, aren't you?" he remarked, his aura immediately surging forth unchecked, attempting to force both NOX and Lucas to their knees with its oppressive power.
The intensity of VRITRA's aura was overwhelming, causing Lucas to summon every ounce of his strength to resist collapsing to his knees. Despite his efforts, he trembled like a cat plunged into icy waters. The Universe remained unfazed by the aura itself, but the anxiety and unease reflected on her face were unmistakable.
"What is this worm on about?" NOX, still in his unhinged state, scoffed, waving his hand lazily. With nothing more than a flick of his wrist, VRITRA's oppressive aura dissolved like an overdramatic villain's monologue cut short.
"Oh my, did you lose your way and stumble here instead of slithering back into your burrows?" NOX sneered, tilting his head in mock concern.
VRITRA's face turned an unhealthy shade of green, his expression a blend of rage and sheer disbelief. Being mocked by an insignificant 'ant' was not on his agenda for the day. His overwhelming murderous aura surged, crackling with fury as it bore down on NOX.
But NOX, being NOX, clutched his chest as if he had been gravely wronged.
"Court death! You still dare to bare your fangs in the presence of 'Big Brother' Lucas'?" he declared with dramatic indignation, as if VRITRA had just committed the greatest crime in existence.
With exaggerated reverence, he turned toward Lucas, eyes shining with a ridiculous mix of admiration and betrayal.
"Big Brother Lucas, rain down [Divine Punishment] upon this foolish worm!"
Lucas: "….."
A suffocating silence filled the air.
Lucas stood frozen, his soul momentarily leaving his body as he processed the sheer absurdity of what he had just been dragged into. His silence, meant to convey 'I have no idea what's happening', was, unfortunately, misinterpreted by VRITRA as 'the arrogance of a superior being looking down on an insect.'
VRITRA's murderous gaze snapped toward the already speechless and unwilling 'Big Brother' Lucas.
Lucas, who had done nothing but exist, now found himself in a situation where breathing incorrectly might be considered an act of war.
Before things could spiral further into madness, Garuda wisely stepped forward, clearing his throat.
"We have more important matters to deal with," he stated, practically radiating the exhausted patience of a babysitter dealing with two overgrown, god-tier toddlers.
'Perhaps this is what they call a 'monkey meets monkey' situation,' Garuda mused.
VRITRA, still seething from NOX's mockery and 'Big Brother' Lucas's apparent indifference, reluctantly swallowed his pride. As much as he wanted to turn NOX inside out and personally lecture Lucas on the dangers of looking too indifferent, he knew their mission came first.
"We understand that you are trying to stop the [Nirvana] of this universe by destroying all lifeforms within it, hoping that this loss of energy will delay the [Nirvana] by a few thousand years, correct?"
"So, we are here to assist you in your endeavor. All you need to do is engage us in battle, and at least one of you must emerge victorious," Garuda explained calmly, his tone devoid of emotion, as if he were merely reciting a predetermined script.
"Help us how?" Lucas asked skeptically, sensing that the offer seemed too favorable to be genuine. Meanwhile, NOXremained uncharacteristically silent, despite the storm of madness brewing within him, urging him to unleash his power. Yet, he maintained a composed façade, fully aware of the broader significance of the moment.
Garuda took note of Lucas's suspicion and raised his hand. In an instant, a dense black orb materialized in his palm. From afar, it appeared as nothing more than a simple sphere, but upon closer inspection, it resembled a singularity—an ominous force capable of consuming everything in its path.
The moment she laid eyes on it, the Universe collapsed to her knees.
She recognized it immediately.
It was her core—the very heart of the Universe.
And with its appearance, she knew her fate was sealed.
Mere minutes ago, she had been composed and confident, assured that no matter the damage she suffered, she could always recover as long as her core remained intact. Yet that assurance crumbled the moment she saw VRITRA and Garuda standing before her.
Many might question why the core of an entire Universe was only the size of a palm, but they failed to understand—all beings present here existed at astronomical scales, their perception so vast that even galaxies seemed insignificant in comparison.
"But, why are you helping us? What's in it for you?" Lucas inquired, fully aware that there is no such thing as a free meal in this cruel world.
"Why do you throw away your money at a stripper, dancing in a club? Why do you pay to watch your favourite show?" VRITRA's voice was flat, but his expression conveyed a mix of displeasure and hopelessness.
"So, ask yourself the same question when you realise that you're dancing naked in someone else's TV series, and 'They' have just finally decided to pay for your clown show." His words revealed a sense of resignation, suggesting that he too felt like a mere performer, trapped in someone else's narrative.
NOX and Lucas' minds raced, analysing every word spoken by Garuda and VRITRA. They were adept at reading between the lines, swiftly drawing the following conclusions:
1. There was an unknown entity or entities with control over VRITRA and Garuda.
2. These entities had likely been observing NOX and Lucas for a considerable period.
3. While these entities had delivered the Universe core into their hands, it's uncertain if these entities are truly allies or if they have ulterior motives.
4. The true intentions behind the entities' actions remained shrouded in mystery, leaving NOX and Lucas to ponder whether this was merely entertainment for them or if there was a deeper purpose at play.
5. NOX and Lucas concluded they cannot acquire the Universe's core without engaging in battle, as dictated by these mysterious entities.
NOX and Lucas didn't waste time dwelling on the situation. They had already accepted the reality before them and were focused on determining their next steps.
Unlike the foolish and arrogant protagonists from the Dragon Country Novel, they refrained from throwing tantrums or delivering cringe-inducing monologues to unknown entities—especially ones that could very well erase them with a thought.
Instead, they chose to grow at their own pace, determined to become strong enough to avoid being mere pawns in someone else's game.
"So, ladies, who wants to dance with me first?" VRITRA remarked sarcastically, extending his hand as if inviting someone to a fencing match.
Both NOX and Lucas were irked by the sight, while Garuda shook his head at the humiliating pose, feeling as though he, along with VRITRA, had lost their image as mysterious and powerful beings.