Chapter 648 - 593: Bootstrap Paradox (1/2)
FLASHBACK
”Do you know the Bootstrap paradox?”
The man crossed his hands and asked Arthur, who was looking back at him.
”No, what is it?”
”On earth, it's just a theoretical paradox of time travel that occurs when something sent back in time becomes trapped in an infinite loop of cause and effect. The origin of whatever is stuck cannot be determined so it's said to be uncaused or self-created. This applies to Dark Magic, for example. As you know, Zodiak received the black seed from the old you, who went back in time, and you got it from the fake corpse. Even if you trace it back to the first cycle, it'll still remain indiscernible.”
”What are you trying to say exactly?” asked back the confused Arthur.
”The two cycles you're stuck in are not necessarily uniquely connected but they are always successive, which makes it almost impossible to escape when you're jumping from the first cycle to the second one, however, this 'transfer' process is relatively slow and can be affected by outside forces.”
The man with the same appearance as the parasite took a deep breath and continued: ”You, and your two brothers are stuck but it's not the case for Lucy or Saly. With enough momentum and the perfect timing, they can break you out of this illusory shell.”
”And?”-Arthur
”You have to understand that the cycles are not a material thing, they exist within the timeline. It's not like a mountain which can be destroyed, they exist everywhere and are crucial to the continuation of this particular timeline but since you're their main cause, the existential balance within them won't interfere if Lucy, for example, tries to disturb their systematic flow.”
”How can Lucy break them?”
”First, let me tell you that this has never been tried for reasons you'll know in a second. To make it work, after the second cycle ends, Lucy needs to travel exactly when you're going to be reincarnated as Zodiak and ��cut' the timeline.”
”Cut the timeline?”
”Separate it in two, basically. Zodiak will exist within the second, which will have a different future generated to it by time itself, while you'll be saved and free and live in the original one. I can't say it'll work but the probability is high.”
”What about Lucy?”
”Balance must be restored. Time wraiths will suck her vitality but only the future her will disappear.”
”That's not what I heard. When time wraiths get you, they'll erase your trace from your origin timeline.”
The man seemed to be aware that Arthur knew about this hidden truth. He let out a sigh and retracted his gaze, his folded arms stretched toward the hot teacup, rocking it back and forth before taking a small sip.
************
”Who are they?”
Zaarae curiously looked at Esco, Vyncent, and Shen Shen. Her eyes stopped on the blue-haired for a couple of seconds, she seemed to be aware of all the secrets within the young kid but, apart from a smile, she didn't say anything. The next one that caught her attention was a woman wearing very revealing clothes, her demonic tail swaying left and right as she sweetly smiled and went next to Arthur.
Sadly, before she could reach her new master, Zaarae blocked by standing between her and Arthur.
”What?”
Fariya creased her brow and looked at the Empress up and down. She quickly figured out that Zaarae and Arthur were kind of teaming up so she wasn't afraid of being attacked, nevertheless, the feelings of inferiority were deeply engraved in her bones, after all, the woman facing her is an otherworldly terrifying existence.
”You're his slave but don't stand too close!”
The Empress warned Fariya with a serious tone. Surprisingly, the Empress' hair slightly changed color as some strands of her became purple, somehow, it seemed related to her mood.
In response, the succubus snorted and took a step back, unwilling to talk back to the woman before her.
As for Arthur, he couldn't be bothered to interfere in their pointless dispute. He wasn't to get together with either of them and it would be better for all sides if nobody touched him.
”Let us go.”
Kass beckoned for them to follow him as he entered the narrow staircase. Arthur walked right behind him, followed Zaarae, the mythical beings, Fariya, Vyncent, Shen Shen, and Esco, who was overjoyed now that he's leaving this dark hole. He didn't think Arthur would bring him along but he kind of underestimated his worth as from Arthur's point of view, this red-haired muscular man knew a thing or two about the vicinities of this planet and could prove useful to the MoonStar Sect in the future.
The path to the surface was long but the group took only ten minutes and were finally met with a thick metallic door which was opened with a flick of the old man's hand. This secret exit led them outside of the prison, precisely in the forest where Arthur and co were ���discovered'.