Chapter 1047 - Karlis’s Resolve (2/2)
***
At the moment, Igor was still speaking to Karlis and Mycroft. Now largely aware about most of the things that had happened after his death, he had also generally learned most norms and history in the world they were presently in.
”In a nutshell, Joshua's consciousness must still be inside the Root right now. Although ours have returned for some unknown reason, he is still showing no signs of awakening.”
Summing up the meaning that both Steel Pythons were conveying, Igor said somberly, ”And what you two are trying to do is attempt to awaken Joshua—of course, before that happens, you would first try to awaken others who could be revived like myself and consolidate power capable of fighting against the present world Order.”
”It is indeed as you have imagined. And we should not only stop at reviving the others—of the Three Worlds, the Sky Sword Realm and the Earthen Axe Realm must be Ying and Ling's true forms. They are probably in slumber and are yet to awaken as well, and we must awaken them first if we can, because being Joshua's weapons, their bloodlines are linked to his. They would most definitely hold higher authority as compared to the Silver Fairies.”
Karlis lifted her eyes towards the silver crystal roof of the hall, a faint melancholy in her voice. ”Whatever the case may be, we have all returned from Divine Death…that might be Joshua's backup measures taking action, or because we had really been dragged into the Root and only returned after a very long time. Still, I would never believe that Joshua would die so simply—he would certainly return from the Initial Flame.”
”Still, with what I understand about that man…when push comes to shove, he might have a new World Will be born unto this world—one which belongs to the Three Worlds and Nine Skies, and not Joshua's. In turn, that World Will would take his place and continued the eternal battle.”
That naturally sounded like something Joshua would do. Igor became quiet as he listened on, before he eventually caught Karlis's cold words.
”But I won't allow that.”
”The Joshua I want is that Joshua. Don't he dare try to shrug off his own responsibilities! If he wants to save the Multiverse, let him do it himself! Whatever the cost along the way, I would have him come back!”
”Even if the price for that is to destroy everything present in this world.”
There was nothing more important than Joshua's revival.
Such was Karlis's will and resolve—so firm and clear that everyone there would understand even if it was not said out loud.
”Still, regardless, there has been ancient ruins coming back to live in the few recent decades. I am also convinced that the Steel Pythons who had recovered memories from their previous existence would not just be us few—those are all opportunities.”
Mycroft's tone was calm and unhurried, and much more composed as compared to Karlis's. ”And we would need this little one's strength with such opportunities—that is, his Silver Fairy clearance.”
As eyes were turned towards Alpha once more, he nervously shuddered by reflex for an instant. Still, as Igor leveled his gaze at his own, he felt warmth and strength from the tender gaze of the Mycroftian pontiff which was just like a bonfire, and hence no longer feeling nervous or fearful.
If he was being truthful, Alpha neither understood what Karlis or Mycroft were saying. He had at best comprehended that the true identities of his mentor and superior were probably reincarnated forms of prehistoric deities, and that they were acquainted with the Father…and now, as the many stars of the Three Worlds and Nine Skies are about to die out, they would revive the Father and save the Multiverse.
That being said…what is the Multiverse? Was that another name for the Three Worlds and Nine Skies?
”What should we do with those members from the Order of the Ashes?”
Turning, Mycroft glanced at the group of Order members who had been silent in a corner, frowning. ”Kill them?”
”There's no need.”
Karlis's reply came quickly. Even if there was a cold glint in her gaze and she knew too well how they had been hunting her in the last dozen years, she showed no inclination of ending their lives. ”There is no need to kill them—we still need them to lead us to the Godly Summit and the location of other obelisks. Moreover, with the Steel Python Authority of the Children of the Stars, they must have already claimed the power of many restored champions who were not awakened for their own uses, adapting them as living batteries to move the stars…stop stroking your chin, Igor. If it is not for us being here, you would have almost ended up as a battery providing Holy Light.”
”And what should that be named? Solar Holy Light?” Mycroft continued the good-nature teasing.
***
Meanwhile, as the ancient champions from the Age of Starfall began to be jovial, Grong, High Judge of the Order of the Ashes could no longer hold back.
He knew that he was an enemy of Karlis and the rest, and that the Order of the Ashes were always pursuing them.
He knew that they were hesitating about killing them.
He also knew that those champions were from the same era as the Father, champions so ancient that it was impossible to imagine…and they probably thought nothing of the Lightchasers, the people of the Three Worlds and Nine Skies.
He knew it all—but Grong would still have to speak out. He had to make a stand because it had to do with saving the world, just as it was his duty as a member of the Order of the Ashes.
”All of you…are champions? From which era? I can scarcely imagine it, but it must be from a long time in the past, and your origins more ancient than Lightchaser history…”
Slowly stepping forward, Grong gritted his teeth despite the presence of several Legendary champions, never faltering even half a step. ”But whether all of you had known each other or were close, are you not a part of this world now?” he growled quietly with a hoarse voice. ”All of you are within the Three Worlds and Nine Skies…don't you know about the state of this world?!”
”It…it is about to fall…”
Igor did not release his aura to suppress Grong, but neither Karlis nor Mycroft had any intention to allow the High Priest to come any closer. Hence, after moving forward over a dozen meters, he could no longer approach them—the old white-haired man was usually so spirited that he did not appear advanced in age at all. Now, however, despite his robust form and usual vigor in speech, there was gulping in his tone. ”Don't all of you live in this world too? No matter what any of you think about our Order, what you think about me—whatever you would think, for that matter…could you tell us if you have another way of saving this world?”
”Really, whatever solution there would be, we will do it…”
”We beg you!”
The other escort guards of the Order had knelt on the floor then, exclaiming together, ”We would definitely do it—whatever the cost!”
Even if they were foes, the sincerity and determination in their words could be heard.
Watching as Grong tearfully went down on his knees to earnestly beg them to reveal a measure with which they could save the world, along with his guards who were on all fours behind him, Karlis stayed silent for a moment before eventually breathing a sigh.
”That is why I do not want to kill any of you…it is just that it would be rather cruel if I say it.”
At that very moment, the former Steel Python started to speak softly—not in Lightchaser language, but in Mycroft Basic instead. ”Although you would not understand me, Grong, but what you and the Order of the Ashes had done in the beginning was right. Fifty thousand years ago, before the Steel Pythons had yet to awaken and the many former champions are still being healed, when Joshua's return was still so far away it seemed to take forever and we had yet to return from the Root, it was all of you who had continued the Flame and maintained the center of the Three worlds and Nine Skies. It is actually the lingering warmth of Joshua's core engine, and that had been what kept this world going—your kind had definitely saved the world, and laid the foundations that are here now.”
”Now, however, things are different. All of us have now returned, and though the chance for Joshua's resurrection was fractional, it is not actually impossible. Even so, our objective is basically not to save this world—this Three Worlds and Nine Skies that is about to die…or indeed, I should say that what I would do, is destroy it and extinguish its every Flame.”
”That would be the only way that the core engine in Joshua's world which had came to a stop so long ago, can undergo a full post-stall reactivation. It would be in that very moment—the split second when they warrior's body once again obtains vigor—that we are able to gain such a faint chance of awakening him.”
***
It was matter which severely lacked any better option.
The entire Three Worlds and Nine Skies—the heart of the Steel Continent—was in reality Joshua's core engine which had long since stopped running. One hundred and twenty thousand years after the warrior had met his Divine Death, all sufficiently powerful Chaos was wiped out, whereas the core engine had also long since stopped working after losing its objectives. In turn, it led to a tremendous plummeting of warmth for the entire Steel Continent, with countless stars dying out one after another.
In order to keep the world alive, the Order of the Ashes had used the Children of the Stars, who were actually Steel Pythons, along with the strength of the champions slumbering within obelisks and awaiting their resurrection. By boosting the children's power with the obelisks to move the endless stars and keep the light shining inside the Radiant Domain, it would also simultaneously maintain the remaining warmth of the core engine—the giant dark star. All of those things had kept the world alive, but it had also prevented the core engine from cooling entirely and hence reactivating.
Karlis the Steel Python, who had fused into one body with Joshua in the past and fought alongside each other, was very sure about the warrior's inner body structure and the principles in which it operated.
And such was the only solution she could come up with.
”It is only after the old Flame would die entirely that a new greater Flame could be ignited…we are not powerful enough to have it both ways, and if I were to choose, I would only ever pick Joshua.”
Karlis's words was firm and determined. To bring Joshua back to life, she would not hesitate to sacrifice any part of herself.
Meanwhile, Mycroft's expression was entirely unconcerned. She knew very well that as compared to something as insignificant as the Three Worlds and Nine Skies or some lifeforms which had been grown inside the world within Joshua's body, all of the Multiverse had a greater need for the warrior's power.
On the other hand, Igor simply stayed silent and said nothing. He was the pontiff of the people of Mycroft and also Joshua's friend, not to mention that he had once sacrificed himself for Joshua, while Joshua himself had also resurrected him—did he even have to think about making the choice? Still, since every element at stake were civilizations serving Order, if it was possible, the elderly former pontiff would do all that he could to protect the Lightchasers in the moment that the Flame goes out.
Regardless, everyone had already resolved themselves and made their decision.
All at once, the entire hall was left in silence.
***
Over at a corner, Alpha could feel that his mentor, whom he was so familiar with, had changed—even if she was still that determined and decisive teacher of his who held great courage in making choices, she was now very much no longer the famed scholar and the great explorer from the Radiant Domain.
Now, she was a champion belonging to an ancient period far gone, and not even a foreigner of this world.
Had his own choice really been the right one?
Alpha was unsure about that, but what he did know was that it was only by following his own mentor that he stood a chance of saving his own family from the Order of the Ashes.
As for the other people living in this world…
Sigh.
In the very end, he himself was a selfish person as well…
Hence, after a long silence, it was the time to leave with resolve.
”And that is it. We shall take action at once—we will first head out to other markers on the star map and have Alpha revive the other champions.
Turning around and heading for the stairs of the crystal hall, Karlis was clearly no longer intending to waste time. ”After that, we will proceed to the Radiant Domain and rescue the Children of the Stars—there is no lack of champions in the Three Worlds and Nine Skies, however, with the duo of the Heavenly Blade Empress and the Demon Cleaving Ruler probably obtaining a part of Ying and Ling's power as weapons of Joshua. Both of them possess the ability of Ultimate Legends, not to mention that the Order of the Ashes controls almost every divine item. We do not have numbers on our side, and might not be able to take down their headquarters.”
”And then what?” Igor sighed as he followed right behind Karlis. ”What can we still do after quenching the Flame?”
”In the end, we shall head for the edge of the Steel Continent, to the Edge of the World.”
There was no hint of hesitation in Karlis's words even as she stared straight ahead. ”The Steel Continent is infinitely vast, but the Edge of the World is different—it is a wound that Joshua himself had torn open, and it must have been a passage that he paved to seal the many Demi Saint Evil Gods. That passage has now become an edge of the boundless realm to a certain extent: the World Barrier, which could never have been broken or bypassed, would probably appear when the Flame is at its weakest, creating a gap connecting us to the Multiverse beyond.”