Chapter 826: 814 (2/2)

It was a palm-sized eyeball with violet irises surrounding a deep crimson pupil. The sight of it resembled Ryu'er's eyes as it was also surrounded by deep blue irises with a crimson pupil in the middle.

”You have no idea how long I waited,” space seemed to morph around the eye and Nik found himself standing in front of a mirrored copy of himself. Just a wildly more mature looking and panties soaking version. Long black hair slightly disheveled and hanging loosely on his back as he wore a black t-shirt over his bulky body. Narrower eyes but a calm smile.

”You know, Nirdai may say whatever he wants but he was my dad, not yours. I'm your daddy,” he blew and Nik's eyes twitched.

”You... you're the version who fucked Ray... or some another trap, aren't you?”

He didn't know what was going on but he had enough strange encounters to understand a few clues from a glance itself.

'Most probably a guy from a parallel universe with—'

”I didn't fuck Ray, he wishes. The only thing I pierced him with was my hand and into his chest. I meant literally, I'm the cause of your continued existence. Not ours. Only yours.”

”Woah? You killed Ray?” Nik questioned with an incredulous expression. Say whatever about Ray but the last thing he had done is actually betraying their group. Finding benefits for oneself selfishly is something everyone has, he couldn't blame it on Ray for getting hold of Asgard but only blame himself for being slow. This was also one of the reasons why he instantly went to collect infinity stones the moment Morgan managed to decipher a spell for tracking it.

”I didn't kill him,” the much mature version of him shrugged and leaned back while floating as if resting, ”Ray challenged me that I cannot get his heart. So I did. It was brutal. He was after my balls after all. He was healed after that but when he knelt down to my superiority rather hotly, I got a boner so things grew weird for a few days...”

Nik furrowed but remained silent.

”I will keep this simple. A soul stone allows anyone capable of wielding it, if under rank 6 or even rank 6, to utilize their unique soul energy endlessly. Of course, the benefits of the soul stone, like the other infinity gems only remain within the universe they are produced in. Take these babies out and they will lose their power while new gems will be created once again in the given universe.”

”So?” Nik finally inquired.

”You aren't the least bit curious what's going on?”

”Honestly?” Nik inquired again and the man gave a grin.

”At this point, it would be pretty stupid of me to care about where I came from. Nirdai, Kaal, or you, or any other entity still hiding inside, as I get stronger, I'll find them and pure them. My body is not a free estate. You stay, I get something out of it.”

”That's quite radical,” the man gave a soothing chuckle when a chilly smile appeared on Nik's face, ”A broken consciousness barely existing within me and only able to reveal itself once I reach the rank 6, or hold that rank's capabilities. So, the question is whether you have some other trade to pull out, or are you just a fleeting consciousness on the verge of complete exhaustion, or the final one, that whether you want this soul?”

”Neither,” the man rolled his eyes and focused his attention on Nik before nodding, ”Hmm, you've got a little mastery of the concept of time. Do you know anything about paradox?”

”Nothing. If you have something to say, be clear and quick about it.”

”Not to be a worrywart but you look absolutely triggered... is it because I can attract more women with my face than you?”

”This should be my soul's energy, right?” Nik suddenly spoke up, stretching his hand and revealing a ball of kaleidoscopic light that instantly made the man smile wryly, ”Cheer up a little. I'm the only one who isn't after your life because two of us cannot exist at the same time. That's the paradox I was talking about. In all the existence, the Chaotic Soul is unique because it contains the seed of chaos within. Others may travel to various universes to slay their parallel self to raise their ranks but not you. Rank 6 is final for you. One and only goal.”

”What?” Nik clenched his fist and the light fizzled away, instantly dispersing into shadows.

”The information is too complicated for words...” the man shook his head and finally his form turned back into that one eye that, too, dispersed into ashes, leaving one single red gem.

”This is the hard work of first prototype... after many revisions, you were finally created, and by that, I mean your personality, your history, your everything. Be it Kaal, or Nirdai, they have died countless times unaware of their own demise. And we... we all continued to act like sore winners until we could have it all. Once you reach rank 6, the information locked in this seed of infinity will be unlocked to you alongside the mystery of our existence.”

The red gem floated towards Nik but instead of fusing with him, it stayed while the faint voice of his other self echoed, ”I also know that the first thing we hate is being put on the spot in a non-sexual situation. It's going to be your choice how you wield it. Last piece of advice, despite everything that has happened, don't let it make you believe that your existence is simply an experiment. We're all real. And we all willingly chose to not exist anymore.”

The world turned silent and Nik continued to observe the red gem. Instead of touching it, he let it stay there for the period and placed his attention... on his soul.

'So this is a soul... kinda dull. Unique power, huh,' he thought silently as the kaleidoscopic light merged over his palms alongside the soft sound of countless crystals and glasses merging together, ringing sonorously.

'This can wait, too. After getting the last stone, I will be able to finally... have a triplet action with Gwen!'

Nik's gaze converged as he familiarised himself with the space termed as his soul and he instantly pulled out. Aside from the red gem there truly wasn't anything else left within his soul.

”Nik—”

Asmodeus's excited voice leaked out.

”No. Nothing. I know what the benefits of Soul Stone is... wait for your turn you slutty slime!”

Nik instantly silenced Asmodeus and the others who were about to speak up turned quiet. Even Asmodeus didn't like being called a slut in such a tone.

”Hey, be a little happy. With this, even if we cannot gain our original souls, we will have a chance to find them!” Her slimy body ballooned up.

While she rebuked, Nik had already created another portal and stepped into it without replying. Countless thoughts did run in his mind as to what that particular version of him said. But one thing was true, despite already knowing how manipulated his past was, he didn't let it confuse him into an existential crisis. The number of girls yet to be devoured wouldn't let him.

Reality stone to create the perfect copy of the body.

Soul Stone to create the perfect copy of the soul.

If he wanted, he could be the tycoon of the blow doll industry now.