454 Aspect of Existence Part 1 (2/2)

Not really satisfied with the answer, one of the escorts of the commander stepped forward, and said, ”Commander, I'll go.”

None of the aliens did the same, and it was only after the general covered the microphone and exchanged a few words with the scientist, that he turned to look at one of the soldiers that was standing  behind him, and ordered him to go.

After the nervous soldier joined the cultivator in the middle of the room, Edmund and Nova joined them, and opened a portal to the void, and along with the two warriors, entered it.

For the following five minutes the two sides looked at one another with hostility, wondering whether this process was meant to take so long, or if Daniel had tricked them into killing two of their warriors. Luckily, right before they could start complaining, the portal opened once again, and from it, walked out a calm looking Edmund, an indifferent Nova, and the two shocked warriors, who weakly walked towards their factions, and reported what they had seen.

The reason why it had taken five minutes, was that instead of simply showing them the mature destroyers that lived in the void, the two had brought them into the stomach of one, where the concept of collapsed space was held. If not for Edmund's relatively new ability to travel between familiar dimensions, the three would have been stuck there, unable to come back.

Surprisingly, of the two factions, the one who showed the biggest reaction were the cultivators, who suddenly understood how close to losing everything they had built they truly were. The aliens, on the other hand, remained quiet.

For a moment, everyone in the room knew what needed to be done.. The aliens were bringing the destruction of the universe, and the only way to stop this was to stop their consumption of grey matter.

”Don't listen to them.. Those troglodytes are tricking you into giving up what makes you strong. They are jealous of you.. They will use their brute strength to turn you into slaves.” Said a disembodied voice that came from behind the aliens, but that did not require a translation to be understood by all races present. This voice was grating, and not at all pleasant to the ear.

All those present sprung up on their feet. None of them had felt any form of presence around them, and yet, they had all heard this voice.

”Who is speaking?” Asked the commander.

The question of the commander was left unanswered by a second disembodied voice that came from behind her, the senator, and the Tacher. ”What is the point of this meeting.. They will never give up what they have. They will keep using their trinkets to take and take.. Until there is nothing left.. Kill them all now.” Said a second voice, husky and orotund.

Daniel was beyond confused. Between him and his companions, his group was composed of those who could see the most of the universe, and yet, even he could not perceive the source of these voices. Different in more than just tone and sound, almost polar opposite in nature, they seemed to come from nowhere and yet everywhere.

”Who are you?” Daniel asked, unwilling to let these entities manipulate the two factions into mutual destruction.

As soon as Daniel finished asking his question, two figures appeared behind the two factions. The one that appeared behind the aliens was that of an old Kruga, covered with an armor that was clearly beyond their race's level of technology. The second individual was a distinct middle aged human with a dignified appearance, and a feeling of power that was emanated by his body..

”You can refer to me as Evolution. I am the personification of the natural path of life.” Said the human-like being with a dignity that not even an emperor would deem himself worthy of.

”A step under anything that is important.” Said the alien-like being with a derisive tone. He then added, ”I am Ingenuity. I inspire the intelligent, and are to thank for anything that separates you from beasts.”

No matter from which faction, all those present were left with no words. These beings were inconceivable, and from the way they described themselves, it seemed that they were talking of themselves as superior beings which had descended heaven to advise their pupils. Evolution to the humans, who had managed to better their race through natural selection and power, and Ingenuity to the alien races, who had abandoned the evolution of their bodies to embrace technology and development.

”This alliance is unnatural.. Their knowledge cannot compare with your own, and allying with them is as wise as allying with a pet. Your power comes from creativity and imagination.. Follow their path, and you will lose what you are.” Said Ingenuity to the aliens, who until now, had been having similar thoughts.

Similarly, Evolution said to the cultivators, ”They cannot offer anything to you. They have reached their limits, but you haven't. Ambition and greed will make you stronger. Kill them all, and take your places at the top.”

”DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!” Shouted Daniel, grabbing the attention of the nearly swayed cultivators and aliens. ”Remember what happened a few hours ago? Remember what we have risked?!”

”The end is but a part of existence.” Said a hoarse and guttural voice that came from right next to Ingenuity, right where immediately after, appeared another being with the semblance of a member of the Kruga race, showing which side he was supporting.

”Conclusion..” muttered Evolution, whose nature was constant, neverending, and opposite to that of both Ingenuity and Conclusion. He then turned to look at the former, and with a faint smile, he said, ”I did not come alone either.”

By the side of the cultivators, a fourth figure appeared. However, this time, the entity was recognizable to at least five of those present in the room. Daniel, Sewah, the Teacher and all of his students immediately felt the powerful familiarity towards this figure. An old man whom they quickly recognized as Iewah himself.