Her hand slid off her smooth chin as she pointed at herself. "The Evernight Goddess… So that's what I was called in the future?"
Klein could only nod in response to her bewildered question. He kept his gaze fixed on the ground. The reaction didn't go unnoticed, her brows twitched, her amazement almost melting. Without another word, she extended a hand which grasped his face.
"Why long faces?" she lifted his chin with a finger, their eyes sinking into each other.
A chuckle from Klein was the typical reaction from witnessing this, but right now he could only shake his head. Amanises was not one to be discouraged instead she took his hand and led him forward. He stared at her back which looked taller than usual, framed by her hair now braided. Around them, night vanillas and lilies swayed against the sea breeze, bringing in coolness to the tension.
They reached a light rocky elevation, its edges perfect for a commanding view over the illusory sea and the starry night sky. As they sat, Amanises stopped him with a hand, before tapping at her bare shoulder.
Klein blinked, causing her to pout. "I'll be tapping my thighs next."
Once again, he shook his head with a sigh, leaning it against her shoulder as she wrapped her an arm around his waist. They remained silent for a while, simply enjoying the view, before he broke the lull.
"Right from the start," he mulled over his words, his voice hoarse. "…From the start, I had been wearing a mask."
She shifted subtly, her gaze curtained by his black hair as he continued. "Shoved into an incomprehensible and dangerous situation… It was like my instincts took over. I assumed what I then thought was a separate and distinct identity. A new family, a new environment, a seemingly new world and experiences that I initially saw as distant. But it worked out, somehow. From that point on, I'll be wearing my ultimate secret of being a 'transmigrator' to heart."
He clenched his jaws a bit and then a half-hearted laugh escaped his lips. "You could say I enjoyed wearing masks a little too much. Heh, I ended up assuming the identity of some hidden existence while being just an ordinary human. Of course, I was smooth with it. And it's probably due to how easy it came to me that I didn't realise just how heavy the masks truly were."
"But ultimately all of this was acceptable to me. So long as my goal remained—so long as I could take out the one who wronged those close to me... So long as I could go back home. Everything was acceptable."
"Humph," he clicked his tongue. "Unfortunately, or fortunately the masks of faceless didn't stop me from forming meaningful bonds, albeit partially unintentionally. Unfortunate because I always had this question at the back of my subconscious: 'Suppose this was in fact a parallel world, and I could indeed go back to my family but it was one-way. Would I give up every friend, believer, and family that I made along the way?' I simply kept pushing that down. 'I'd eventually figure it out when it came to that,' or so I thought… That's not how you solve anything…"
Amanises felt a pang in her chest hearing this. After all, she wasn't much different when it came to this line of thinking. Even if she could head back with Klein, what if they couldn't meet again?
She found herself sighing as he proceeded. "It turns out I underestimated how much those bonds mattered to me. Even when most of my hope was shattered after becoming a Demigod, it helped me cling on. In return, I had to remove at least some of the disguises."
"There were events after that which I can now look back very fondly, and all this culminated to my anchors stabilising me at my lowest. When I finally learned the truth, that is." He looked up at Amanises who stared back with a complex expression. "We're indeed the same here."
She wordlessly agreed. He was her primary anchor amidst the absolute despair she felt after learning the truth.
But your anchors melted away, didn't they? As if reading her mind, he inclined his head and returned his eyes to the sea. "Right as I was about to face my biggest challenge yet—Apotheosis, I woke up in this era. Almost Four thousand years back. Everything and everyone I'd ever built and connected to vanished into the uncertainty of Fate."
"I was, once again, alone. And this time completely."
"Well," he lifted his head and straightened, turning to her. "That was until I thought of you; the Evernight Goddess was actually roaming the world at this time."
Her lips twitched as she leaned into him. "Future me is that old?"
"That's what you absorbed?" This time he let her lean on his shoulder—though it was more accurate to say both were leaning into each other.
"Almost Four thousand years." she muttered. Her mind couldn't process living for so long, doing what? Fiddling with her wolf ears!?
I likely didn't have anyone this close to me then. She bit her lip, glancing at Klein who hummed. "I can't say for sure what state you were in the last time I saw that version of you. But from my own experiences and your words, it's hard to believe you could still resonate with your humanity."
"Only the strongest silver of it, supported by your anchors would remain to fight off Godhood. Ultimately thought that is as good as meaningless."
Many thoughts formed in her mind before she spoke, "Then I was one of your key supporter?"
"The Key Supporter," Klein corrected, both adjusting their bodies for better contact. "Without you, let alone my Beyonder journey, I would've immediately become "His" vessel the moment I descended from the Castle."
"Somehow I don't believe I did it partly due to the goodness of my heart," she said with a huff, causing Klein to smile. "Not at all. It was business to put it bluntly. Though there were some interactions that made me believe it wasn't so shallow. Like, there was that time, after I stopped the descent of an Evil God who was technically "Him". While running away, I almost died but you, possessing a vessel, came and save me."
She laughed. "I was probably trying to appear as cool and mysterious as possible." Her brows then knitted. ""He" was an Evil God?"
"Anything is possible when you take into consideration the absurd time frame," he wrapped his arm around her waist, causing her to lean into his chest. "When it came to you, even if only because you interacted with me so early, no disguises existed. You were one of the few existences that knew everything I tried to hide..."
He looked at the stars. It was illusory, though one day he wished to use Sefirah Castle to make this personal abode of theirs as real as it could get.
"There was always a wall between us that made true connection impossible to settle. But in this world, this time, it is different."
He let out a long sigh, and Amanises had the faint feeling she wouldn't like what she was about to hear.
"You know… When I first thought of you here, many things crossed my mind. Open, relatable, naive, malleable, a bit stupi—"
"Okay-Okay!" She threw up her arms, placing her hands on her hips. "I get the point!"
Klein chortled at her reaction, covering his face. As he calmed, he added, "But it was like a balance. The wall didn't exist this time, but two main masks had to be created."
She settled and thought about it. "The truth of our world, and your status as a time traveller?"
Klein acknowledged then elaborated, "I told the Seven Lights about the time travel thing, and I believe Grisha has already deduced all relevant details—though I still doubt he fully understands the circumstance regarding me. The Genie was a reminder that those true, Great Existences might not have been blind to my sudden appearance this early."
He exhaled, leaning forward. "In the future timeline, even when the masks were slowly removed, the core remained. Even when the core was put aside, I still had a role to fulfil. Those who supported me and banked all their hope mattered more than my personal desires. Even if my end wasn't a pleasant one, it was worth to me."
He closed his fists then opened it.
"But I'm still human at heart."
"Certain aspects of me remained even under the erosion of godhood. And that only grew once I appeared here. Its a second chance, a time for me to finally breathe. All those expectations I planned on fulfilling returned to mist as they no longer exist yet."
"Naturally," his back straightened before he stood on his feet, both looking at the sea ahead. "I still have responsibilities to fill… I also hope that the bonds I made then would somehow manage to be recreated." His shoulders faltered a bit, drawing her attention as she also stood. She slowly turned to face him, and he did as well.
"And the deep connection that I have made now," His face flinched for just a second before blossoming into a genuine-true smile. At once, Klein felt the rushing stream of countless moments and memories—some special as the nights of charades, others simply just another day in their little mundane life. He hesitated no more, his stature relaxing and his expression blooming into a gentle breeze of Love.
"To outlast even my own existence. That is My Wish."
The gentle tides of sea hit ashore. The stars twinkled just a little too brightly.
"That sounds like a wish that will horribly backfire," Amanises stated through a chuckle, her lips curling to match his.
"Mhmm, that's why Terms and Conditions apply of course," they leaned in for another kiss. A deep one this time.
…
Eastern Continent, Eden.
The City of Cities bloomed with the Sun above, its powerful light dispersing into seven colours which were reflected by the distinct architecture. The muted, but deeply foundational buildings at the city's edges, continuing into a mosaic of colourful and cheerful crowds who weaved through the budding districts. All reaching towards the Pure, White Light bathing the Central Place of Worship—a sacred area where Heaven was said to descend on to, in times none expect.
"And through the Lord's blessings, the Tenth elevation ceremony will begin shortly." Standing on an elevated platform, a burly looking man, his red curls falling over his ears, addressed the growing crowd. The latter roared as names were being read, though a few among them couldn't help but whisper to each other.
"I hope I'll be called this time. Frederick became a Keeper of the Seas four months ago and he can't stop bragging. I'm so jealous."
"Jealousy can quickly turn to sin, my friend. But to answer your doubt, that depends. How much palms did you offer the Lord?"
"The Lord only needs true devotion, anything else is just extra. That's what the Saints said last week."
"While I'd like to become a Secrets Supplicant, I know for sure none of us would be chosen. Not after spending the entirety of last night dead drunk on ale."
"Hey, it was a pretty good one though, you've got to at least recognise that… Hehe, I'm quite baffled we're this clear minded following that."
"Praise the Lord!"
As more were called, a veiled woman looked at the speaker on the podium who focused on the selected now being directed by various clergymen. She was late to the gathering, but if she recalled correctly, the man was called Egor Sauron.
Must be nice being born possessing God's grace. She let out a sigh, a person near her muttering, "I don't recall Yegora Sauron having a brother…" Noticing her veiled friend turning to her with a questioning look, the latter initially shook her head before speaking her mind. "It's just that I was part of the communities rescued by the Blazing Heroine, Yegora Sauron… I'm sure I told you that."
The friend acknowledged, fixing her veil. Many heroes of humanity rose and fell one after the other, each time growing clearer, less animalistic and destructive. They were the source of hope for most before the Decadent Sun shined upon humanity; the heroes themselves becoming free from the last vestige of corruption from the evil races.
She continued. "But I didn't think she had family, let alone a brother who looks like her male version of her."
"This World works in Mysterious ways," her friend responded, shrugging.
Klein's avatar blinked, looking down at the populated plaza. He was hidden in plain sight, not even the covert and overt saints below could sense the shear divinity above their heads.
It's so strange experiencing a world where the mystical is common place for all. The ceremony below didn't shock him. Following the Divine War, the trio had split quite the amount of spoils, with the couple going for quality over quantity.
Speaking of, He took off his hat and turned around, looking up. The sight, even for him was impressive. Degeneration and purity, light and darkness, faith and an absolute sense of duty—all made physical by the Divine Kingdom whose edge he stood upon.
The Corpse Cathedral.
Different from what he was used to, this "Heaven" looked more majestic and grand. The bones forming most of it being more prominent, exuding a variety of effects. Formed from a bet made by the Red and Dark Angels, the former worked hard under "His" Lord's approval to gather the remains of mighty creatures. Even including some Deities.
Well… Only one of the three had a complete skeletal remain. With his hat in hand, Klein walked into the main hall, his connection to everything growing faint.
Being a gentleman and a quality friend, he had swindl—no. He had fairly haggled with his good friend. In exchange for stealing some of his authorities for use when relevant matters appeared, he gave up the entire skeleton of the Annihilation Demonic Wolf, together with some of the wolf's blood. At the same time, Grisha obtained certain corrupted remains of Lilith, though most of Kvastir's essence was beyond salvageable.
The wolf's mount in Junk Pile is beginning to change . The thought came and went as the light permeating the vast hall occupied with pews, dimmed. The shadows around shook and formed ripples, faint brass eyes cloaked by them.
"Since the Divine War, an idea formed in my mind."
Klein's ears twitched at Grisha's words, his gaze landed on the Giant Cross dominating the sanctuary. It was fascinating—an object whose height even he couldn't determine, fitting in a colossal Cathedral with defined borders. But what drew most of his focus this time were the souls fused with the Cross. A difficult to determine amount, but he did notice something crucial.
It is increasing. Klein's senses spread. The Corpse Cathedral was selectively permeable as souls from beyond the Divine Kingdom moved in as if guided, before joining with the Cross.
I see. Klein completed his decryption as he stood before the Cathedral's most sacred place. When one perished, their soul bodies would dissipate into the Spirit World, that was the reality during the Fifth Epoch. However, with an Eternal Sleeper active, the dead will head to this true Final Destination. Building on this, Gregrace created the Underworld. Of course, this didn't mean other sequence 0s with the relevant authorities or means couldn't create alternatives.
All those who faithfully believe in the "Lamb" will follow "His" lead. The One who Bears all Sins… I'm used to Grazing inflicting horrifying torment to its victims, but that might be due to the True Creator's madness. Though this Klein avatar had many thoughts, in reality, all remained within the confines of Sefirah Castle. Indeed, through blurring the line between this isolated world and the outside via a Fooling effect derived from the Castle, the avatar's thoughts remained out of reach.
The souls of the faithful are grazed, and their essence remain within the Cross representing Hope. A peaceful end.
He smiled and spoke out loud, "Is whatever my main body is doing with Amanises that good?" The Sun God hadn't continued speaking for a while now.
The veiled and illusory eyes seem to grow in focus as the voice returned.
"A Pantheon."
Hmm? Klein's eyes widened fractionally. This was unexpected.
"My original goal was to accommodate the other pieces, and reach the Above the Sequence level. That plan remains somewhat, but following my discussions with you two and the Genie, some adjustments needs to be implemented."
"He" showed no signs of appearing with his True Body.
Klein acknowledged "His" words. Yeah, reaching the Half a Great Old One level feels a little redundant.
Originally, by attaining the partial Symbolisms of God Almighty, Grisha could deduce key pieces of information which mostly converged into the Second Blasphemy Slate.
But with me here, that isn't necessary. Reaching that level was a risk "He" needed to take then, but not anymore. Once "He" reached that threshold, everything in the original timeline went to shit. He looked around.
"The Pantheon idea is so you can include us?"
"Not just you two; any other sequence 0s and angels that will later rise."
Very logical. The avatar agreed, resuming his walk. A Pantheon lacked the fundamental rigidity common to a Church system. Through it, variety, inclusivity, exclusivity, irreconcilable conflicts, fluidity among believers, and many more concepts could co-exist. This system was quite conducive with the very active status of the True Deities in these eras.
Major changes in one's doctrines can be done more smoothly. He took a step leading to the altar. And in mine and Amanises's case, one's belief can be fluid. But it's not perfect. Right now it doesn't matter as much, but as the Astral and Western Continent Barriers weaken, the relevant external forces would have an easier time to settle.
Before him, the Cross and lavish altar vanished, replaced by a small cradle. Within, lay a silver Mirror.
Klein's smile turned into a grin as he approached. His avatars often roamed the world, "discovering" places first hand, performing miracles, and helping people whenever they could. Sometimes, the main body accompanied by Amanises would join. Today, however, was different, his main body had decided, recalling most of his avatars as he headed for confession. He did leave a key one who went to the City of Eden. Its objective clear. A meeting his true body deemed as important as his interaction with Amanises herself.
He reached and picked up the mirror, brushing the ancient patterns on its back. He felt a gaze from it, a curious one, then intense focus; the mirror's surface began to ripple.
"…How should this humble and lowly servant refer to your Honorable Existence?"
"Hmm… How about Mr. Fool?" He held back a chuckle as he could feel the mirror beam. Clearing his throat, he stated, "I can't simply call you mirror from now on. So…"
"How about Arrodes?"
The Omniscient Eyes veiled by shadows observed the scene in silence. "He" witnessed the mirror, Arrodes essentially short-circuit from pure joy.
The Mirror is acting quite differently with him…
Author Notes: Hello. You know its meaningful when I put my thoughts outside of Author's thought section.
First off—Its done. Slug of Time is now the Second most Hit fic on LOTM EN Ao3 tag with 100k Hits in total. It feels wild utterly wild tbh, and there is so much in my mind I can't put into words. For context, 100k Hits put this fic on top 1% Fics on Ao3 whole. I had never imagined to reach here at all, arguably this might actually be the most popular Lotm eng fic! It also has a whooping 910k Views on Webnovel, we are incredibly close to a Million!
Now that's settled, I would like to make an announcement. After 15th of March, we will be going on a small break of a week so the next chapter (After 15th) would be on 26th. You will still ch on 8th (Sun), 12th (Thur) and 15th (Sun). Reason? My exams ends on 12th of March. Its about time, I take back the responsibility of writting. I want to reread bits of Lotm and this fic once as whole since the long periods of Hiatus have dulled my memory and seeing how close we are to ending Second Epoch, I feel this might be due.
I also, in light of my financial condition, needs to speed up my work on my Original Novel. I'd actually take this moment to talk a bit about last year, I have never really delved into it. 2025 was the worst year of my life. I had attempted suicide (which went as successful as my life) earlier in the year under the extreme pressure of Studies, degrading performance in test, other personal issue and lapse in mental health for the first time in life. This wasn't helped further when my father lost his job in mid year. Call it misfortune but he hasn't manage to get a job since then. Our savings are largely depleted pushing us through financial breakdown. Then hit some family drama which further ruined my mental ecosystem, pushed me to a slump. I would just wake up, pretend to be studying till my parents left for work and then sleep myself all day because I did not want to think. Nothing really mattered to be honest, I had gone apathetic towards my own life—whether I was alive or not was of no concern.
Ultimately I pulled the plug and dropped my current Subjects (Science) after largely realizing any passion I had left was reduced to ashes. My current choice of life can only be described in a single sentence: I do not give a fuck anymore. I have reached a point of Selfishness to any hopes and dreams anyone (that is to say my parents) have held for me. I might be sounding like a terrible person but I cannot care anymore, it is beyond my mental scope. Writing is one of the only things I still like and care about and thus I am diving fully into it. Maybe if ever in future I lose interest here too, I might pull the plug again. Ultimately, I have largely come to a realization that it doesn't matter, with my current condition it is perfectly reasonable to see me terminating my life in future whether that be out of guilt or out of tiredness. Until that point comes—if it comes—I'll live only on my Terms and Condition forsaking anyone else. That is My Wish
Anyways, that is a real insight in regards to your Author. Hope I haven't turn down anyone :)
That's all from me today. Bye-Bye