Chapter 1154 (2/2)

“What do we care about more... The satisfaction of our emotions? Or seeking our true goal?” As the Earth Golem Emperor spoke, the crown he wore shattered and fell away. With a heavy hand, he reached up and pressed a finger to the woven hatred.

His aura smashed against the halo of hatred, creating a thin crack in it. Just as the hatred seemed to be gathering itself to heal, Zeke and the Spriggit Thief were there. With their fingers stuffed into that crack, the two heaved and leveraged it slowly open.

The King of Monsters bared his teeth. “Just because something has always been a certain way does not mean that will always be the case…! It is difficult, but trust to the future you helped build!”

The Spriggit Thief was much less gentle in her complaints. “Don’t you dare try to steal this fucking future from me!”

Of course, it was Alta, still in her child form with her hair and arms limp and broken, that struck the final blow. With exaggerated slowness, her specter appeared and raised her eyes to look at the vulnerability that the other three had opened in the hatred.

“You’ve already failed once. Have you no shame?”

Crack.

The halo became nothing but fragments of cracked glass, some remaining as dark clouds around Azriel but most drifting away. And at that moment. Azriel raised her head and roared.

All at once, the threads of karma worked up their nerve and stabbed downward into the System. An electric shock shook the air, causing even Randidly to wince. Across the whole of the Alpha Cosmos, the new overlay System began to hum to life. It brought with it a string of notifications that left Randidly rather bemused.

“This is impossible!” The Creature shrieked. Shaking his head, Randidly flicked his will and then she was gone. Randidly had wanted her here to make sure the karma didn’t react strangely to her absence, but now that things were settled… the projection’s presence no longer mattered.

Initializing… New System successfully installed. I don’t believe there are any abnormalities.

Ahem. Let’s work together and create a peaceful world. The Alpha Cosmos will grow fruitfully with our combined efforts.

Congratulations! Your Agility has increased by 100!

“Azriel,” Randidly rolled his eyes. And then he shook his head as her answer came in the form of another notification.

Excuse me, I was simply testing it. Your Agility has decreased by 100!

The storm of Nether around them slowly settled. Randidly walked over to Azriel and considered her, taking in her skin and eyes that had been dyed black by the Nether. His expression was worried. “Can you not speak in anything but notifications any longer…?”

“I can speak normally, but I just wished to familiarize myself with this sensation.” Azriel cracked her neck and then hopped lightly to her feet. “There is… a vast part of myself that I suppose is the ultimate product of the Nether Ritual. It controls the System. I can feel it… is it myself, but it is also so much more-”

One day, this Alpha Cosmos will spell the end of the Nexus. Let’s follow this Path to our grave.

Randidly’s mouth twisted as he recognized a line that the Creature had spoken earlier. Azriel coughed into her hand. “And… it’s clear that the Creature’s touch isn’t completely removed… but I believe I will be able to restrain its worst impulses. Especially with the assistance of your Soulskill’s spirits.”

Test.

Again, Randidly gave Azriel a frank look. And this time, she had the common decency to seem embarrassed.

“That… wasn’t me either…” Azriel whispered. Which triggered a flood of notifications that echoed out across the whole of the Alpha Cosmos.

So, now I bear the mantle of the Progenitor… For one who was Emperor, I suppose this is the natural next step.

Congratulations! All those with the Monster Race will now receive +1 free stat points per Level!

Hey, Zeke. No favorites. We are like gods now. Have some dignity.

...sorry. All those with the Monster Race will now receive -1 free stat points per Level…

Azriel coughed lightly into her hand. Then she folded those hands behind her back. “There are… a few kinks to work out, obviously. However, I believe that I will be up to the task of managing this.”