★ 303
"Elaine… perhaps not," I murmured under my breath. I knew exactly who it was, yet I still couldn't fully detach from the remnants of my previous self.
"Antares." Her voice was soft as she greeted me. I could feel the pressure in her presence, the instinctive urge to bow, though her body itself was already pushed to its limit simply by being here.
"What do you want, Orivielle?" I asked without hesitation, cutting straight to the point.
"The First Ruler has requested an audience with you."
'The First Ruler… Primodius. The First Outer God. Too many titles, yet no true name.'
"I decline." The answer came instantly. No deliberation or hesitation. I didn't need to think about it at all.
"I am sorry. I understand your decision…"
"For someone who treated her children that way, I can honestly say you don't." I cut her off before she could continue. She didn't even reacted to my reply which made it clear, she never cared about them.
"Unlike the current you, but just like your previous race, I only see children as expendable extensions of their parents. To me, they are tools meant to fulfil responsibilities." A cold realisation settled in my mind.
'So that's why she never returned to this Shell after my awakening. She already had others prepared. This one was simply compromised.' They never changed. None of these godlike beings ever truly did.
"So, about the invitation—"
"My answer remains the same." I replied without opening my eyes, the twins resting peacefully in my arms.
"I am aware of your restrictions. The limiters Xu Jie Zhi Zhu placed upon you. You are not the complete omniscient consciousness of Ether. Your omniscience is restricted to your Shell and whichever one you personally enter."
"I'll be damned." I replied dryly.
"I don't think you understand how vast Ennoia truly is," she continued. "And yet it pales in comparison to Bytharch."
At the mention of Bytharch, Shiro immediately turned silent. I could feel his mind descending into chaos, desperately trying to process the existence of something beyond his current comprehension.
But I remained calm. If I didn't know it yet, then I would eventually uncover it myself.
"With His assistance, you could gain omniscience across both Bytharch and Ennoia. Every answer you seek would become yours. You'll gain full omniscience of Línglì."
"So Bytharch is another Macrocosm." Another construct of the Rootless Beyonders, about basket of countless existential destinies. Just how big is this Archè Verse.
"The Abyss from which all things emanate."
'As tempting as it is to gain the upper hand before Atlas moves, I can't afford to drag myself into the playground of the Outer Gods. If Atlas truly intends to destroy the Matrix, then he'll inevitably provoke one of the Rootless Beyonders.' And if that happened, it would buy me time to fight back. That kid is the least of my worries right now.
"Sorry. My answer is still the same."
"As expected." She lowered her gaze slightly before speaking again.
"Just like you, Yuan Ling never sought help from anyone, even when it benefited both sides. How selfish you and your previous selves truly are, Antares."
"Selfishness isn't always taking from others. Sometimes, it's refusing to let others share your burden even when they willingly reach out. Call it stubbornness, pride, or protection, but in the end, I still choose alone what everyone else is allowed to carry. If the Matrix falls because of me, ten I alone should bear the weight of saving it." I replied.
"Have it your way then. Feel free to reach out before it's too late." She said, before an external force zap her out form Paradis.
'What a mess. Can't you guys just leave me alone?'
I sighed.
'Anyway, I have to act fast. To know more about Nether, the Outer Gods and Veldanava while trying to expand my awareness.' I won't do it personally though, Asteri will take it form here.
With a thought, I summoned Asteri and ejected him off this Shell to get the job done while I stay back with my family.
The relentless Ego and Entares had pulled every string necessary to bring me here. Entares dealt with the Dark Stars by igniting the Star War itself, forcing their movements into patterns that would push me toward evolution.
The Mad Scientist, on the other hand, ensured I never stepped outside the intended path, subtly correcting every deviation before it could matter.
All I had to do was remain silent and let it unfold. And just as Phoenix once said, there was something almost satisfying about that kind of inevitability, the sense that everything had already been accounted for.
Now that the we're ready to explore the Starverse form Beyond, the laboratory had only grown larger, its scope expanding without changing its nature. Nothing fundamental had shifted. It remained exactly what it always was: a controlled environment under observation.
And until Entares chose to make his move personally, I will remain here, waiting
Part 1 End:)
To be continued...