Rovi's consciousness drifted toward the distance, toward beyond the world. He knew that he had utterly and completely died. His body had weakened to the brink, his soul exhausted to its limit. Stripped bare, only the most fundamental "core" within him still remained, floating upward now—toward the Throne of Heroes, beyond the world.
Died from the gods' curse.
Died from stealing heaven's wisdom.
Died from being abducted by the Primordial Mother Goddess herself.
Strictly speaking, Rovi had simultaneously died at the intersection of these three causes.
Any single one alone would have been sufficient to raise him onto the Throne, let alone all three combined.
Right at this moment, Rovi naturally felt confident and full of anticipation.
Yet, as his consciousness continued drifting, ripples suddenly emerged from the pitch-black "view" around him.
A crystalline voice echoed softly:
"Aaaaaaa—"
Then, in the ripple's wake, his vision shattered—
And his consciousness, originally floating toward primordial heights, was abruptly dragged downward—as if something had suddenly seized his feet and pulled fiercely…
What the hell? What's this?
Don't come closer—!
Rovi's eyes snapped open, jolted awake.
His face covered in cold sweat—entirely from shock.
And directly before him, Tiamat-sama leaned in, gazing down at him. Beneath that cascading waterfall of hair, her exquisite face overflowed with joy.
[Thank goodness.] This was her meaning. [You're alive, and I'm alive too.]
Rovi, instantly understanding everything: "…"
Good? Good, my ass!
I was perfectly fine! Why did you save me?
Just let me die already!
Rovi desperately wanted to shout it out. But seeing the goddess's overjoyed expression, those words remained unspoken, caught bitterly in his throat.
Because he could clearly sense the curse had disappeared from within his body entirely. That suffocating frailty, too, had vanished without a trace.
It was truly the feeling of rebirth—
Not the triple-convergent state he'd previously experienced.
In other words, if he died right now, it was highly possible he wouldn't gain the rightful power that was his due. He'd known clearly from the very start—Rovi himself had to ascend to the Throne, not merely a partial aspect, nor a recorded "template" engraved by the world.
He had to die under the influence of his own legendary deeds.
Even knowing Tiamat would never harm him, Rovi remained ever cautious when caution was due.
Getting slapped to death by the Primordial Mother Goddess certainly wasn't enough to qualify for the Throne.
Especially not here, outside the world.
The earlier three-layered incident had originated inside the world and could be recorded. Provoking the Primordial Goddess here and getting casually flattened? That'd be totally disconnected from the world—completely unrecordable.
[Is something wrong…?]
Seeing Rovi's silence upon waking, Tiamat tilted her head gently. Her massive figure leaned closer, her towering form trembling slightly before his vision. Her long, intertwined legs stretched deep and graceful, their scaled patterns tightening alluringly, highlighting delicate curves against abundant fullness—a particularly eye-catching sight amid the absolute darkness.
Of course, the only "person" present to appreciate this sight was Rovi.
Rovi glanced sideways and sighed. "It's nothing…"
Immediately, Tiamat's face broke into a radiant smile.
Her star-like eyes narrowed softly, the gentle arc of her moist crimson lips lifting upon her exquisite face, a beauty akin to the first ray of light breaking through primordial chaos.
[If it's nothing, I'm glad.] She spoke earnestly and sincerely.
Rovi did not have to die.
And she could continue feeling "alive."
Tiamat's joy was genuine.
Rovi, resigned, could only return a faint smile.
He knew he had to quickly adapt to this entirely new state—at the very instant he'd awakened, he understood exactly what Tiamat had done to him.
She'd used her own power to re-nurture his body and soul.
He was now fully manifested from primordial origin itself, truly fused with the authority left behind by the god Ea, contained within the Sword of Rupture.
Previously, Rovi had been the sword itself.
But a sword was a vessel, a container for power. So was Rovi—but not anymore.
Before, his condition was similar to Gilgamesh's own.
Now, however, he more closely resembled "Enkidu."
Naturally, adjusting to this new state required time, and Rovi felt compelled to master it thoroughly. Only absolute control of his powers would prevent losing precious opportunities at crucial moments.
Indeed, though his latest attempt at "seeking death" had once again failed, Rovi wasn't ready to give up.
He'd once touched the Root itself. Even though he hadn't truly held onto that power, at least in determination, he confidently believed he wouldn't lose to anyone.
"Aaaaa." Tiamat gently raised her fingertip, softly stroking the top of Rovi's head.
Rovi froze for a moment, but then closed his eyes slightly, relaxing into it.
She was helping him to sort through the newly awakened power within, helping him adapt to his rebirth.
[Rovi, are you alright?]
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you…"
[You are my companion. My first—and final—child, born from me.]
[Will you stay with me, forever?]
Tiamat loved this feeling of being alive.
And she loved Rovi, who had given her this feeling, even within this eternally silent place.
Could he?
Of course not.
Rovi couldn't possibly remain here forever, drifting endlessly within the Imaginary Number Sea. He had to return to the world, had to reclaim what belonged to him upon the Throne… But before he could even answer, Tiamat suddenly lifted her head sharply.
Her gentle, pink starry eyes instantly became piercing and cold. Her flowing hair surged outward, scattering violently. Her withdrawn hand rapidly elongated, scales spreading as the hand reshaped into narrow, razor-like claws.
Half-transforming into a dragon.
Tiamat's draconic form was her posture for birthing and evolving all existence.
But now, more critically—
It was her alert stance against an enemy!
[ENEMY DETECTED IN THE VOID.]
[HOSTILITY CONFIRMED.]
[TARGET LOCKED: PLANET-CLASS CONCEPTUAL LIFEFORM.]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed throughout the Imaginary Number Sea, emotionless as a creation of technology.
Just like Tiamat herself.
The entity speaking was also capable of forcefully twisting and creating "existence" from the absolute void of the Imaginary Number Sea.
This allowed Rovi to clearly hear the voice, to see the distant radiance shining forth simultaneously…
Brilliant golden light illuminated infinite, deep nothingness. An immense shadow stood suspended above, like a colossal statue. Covered in steel, woven with gold and silver, an ancient, majestic presence. It had but a single head, yet even that solitary head seemed vast and imposing beyond measure.
Its eyes glittered coldly.
Endless information flashed within those eyes.
A god who roamed the Void—sovereign of all Olympians, god of gods, Zeus himself.
In an instant, Rovi knew its name clearly.
From memories before he'd transmigrated.
From the innate authority of a god to proclaim its existence to all creation—Zeus, who had unified the strength of twelve Olympians, once challenged the White Titan Sefar, was tragically defeated yet barely preserved his shattered remains, becoming a wandering god of the void.
Damaged yet still powerful.
Lightning gathered within its eyes. An aura capable of obliterating all things enveloped its massive form.
Zeus's hostility surged toward Tiamat.
And thus, at the very same instant—
The Primordial Mother Goddess, in dragon form, roared ferociously back at it.
No longer gentle or crystalline.
But a wrathful roar, brimming with the full might of a goddess who had evolved all existence!
Tiamat's hostility ignited in turn.
Yet at this very moment, Rovi's eyes locked onto something beneath Zeus—at the source of that golden radiance.
Though indistinct, that light was undoubtedly the aura of something within the world itself.
The place illuminated by that golden light undeniably fell within the realm of the real world.
Previously, he'd been unable to secure a Throne seat. But stepping into the world's scope once more—and performing something utterly extraordinary—would be a different matter entirely.
Rovi…
Suddenly felt his heart race!