Mythos looked at the battle and said to Arios, "So this is the reason you sent him there?"
Arios said, "Yes, that is the reason. That bastard Julius had been planning and studying for several years, waiting for the right moment to kill Lina in order to get revenge on me. But I ruined his plan with a single move. As for that bastard Ramen, I knew he had been alive for a very long time, and I also knew he intended to do something bad to me. He was planning to kill my wife and my little son, but he got what he deserved without my intervention."
Mythos then said, "Master, tell me now. Are you truly an invincible being?"
Arios looked at him in surprise, then said, "Yes. I am the strongest creature in all of existence, and in every consciousness that has ever existed or will ever exist. But right now, I am somewhat trapped. I am not using any of my true power. My true power and true form exist outside this world, and this is merely a physical form that I appear in here. However, I admit that because of something you would not understand, I cannot return to that form right now."
Mythos said, "And what would you do if you returned to your true form?"
Arios smiled and said, "Actually, I have a goal: to remove and erase every form of metaphysical life so that I can be the only meta-being. I have seen everything since the beginning of eternity, and I discovered that I made a mistake by creating those things called embodiments of concepts. They were not created to be living beings. They were created for specific purposes. But because they possess consciousness and vessels, those entities have become an annoyance to me, especially because of the way they look at me."
Mythos said, "You mean those entities see us as nothing?"
Arios said, "Yes. They see you as nothing more than shadows they imagine. They play with you, erase you, or create you for their amusement. They can see you, but you cannot see them. Those entities have no right to do that."
Mythos asked, "Will you help mortals, Master?"
Arios replied, "No. I have nothing to do with mortals. What annoys me is that I am everything, and no one should imitate me. Those entities imitate my attributes. I alone have the right to see everything as worthless, and no one but me has the right to look at everything beneath them as nothing. All of you are equal in relation to me, and no one has the right to place themselves above another except me. That is the definition of Eldi Prime: absolute authority without limits. Nothing is above it, and nothing is beneath it."
Mythos said, "Master, but you are not thinking of erasing humanity, are you?"
Arios said, "If I wanted to do that, I would have done it long ago. In fact, one day I wished to become human, along with another person, so that we could experience that life despite already knowing everything about it. Unfortunately, problems arose between us because of that. My goal now is to meet that person."
Mythos asked, "Master, do you think you prefer your human side over that side of yourself?"
Arios stared into himself for a few moments and said, "I do not know. Anyway, I am leaving now. I have important work to do. I want to give you a mission: protect Izola and the little one in my absence. All the soldiers will help you. Just order them, and they will obey you."
Mythos bowed and said, "I will not disappoint you."
Arios said, "Good. Because I have started to feel that whoever is outside has become aware of my existence now, and that I am still here."
After that, Arios disappeared from the place and began flying between dimensions at an unimaginable speed in his meta-form.
Then he stopped in a strange space, looked below him, and said, "Interesting. I think I have exited the ten dimensions, and yet I still feel as though I am trapped inside the box of existence."
Arios's size began to expand, growing enormously until the physical dimensions became nothing more than a point compared to a single strand of his hair. Because of his immense size, all ten worlds, containing trillions of universes, looked like nothing compared to the atoms of his clothing.
Then Arios's shadow began emerging from within a tiny point. It climbed upward and moved from one dimension to another, until it finally grabbed the edge of something white and emerged from it, reaching a gigantic crack.
The crack looked like a sharp fragment floating in the void, and its size was literally limitless.
Arios walked forward and entered through the crack, reaching an inner cavern. He looked around and found Ernas waiting there.
Arios said, "So you were serious when you said you would wait for me here."
Ernas replied, "Yes. Do you think I am joking now? Come on, open that thing and let us enter. You are the only one capable of opening the Center of Beginning."
Arios said, "Yes, that is true."
Then Arios said, "Before that, tell me something. Have you ever heard of a human deceiving a metaphysical entity?"
Ernas looked toward Arios and said, "What are you talking about? Are you joking with me?"
Arios laughed and said, "Good."
Arios then placed his hand on the door, which was made of silver sapphire and covered in inscriptions that constantly changed from moment to moment.
After opening a small crack, Arios grabbed the door with his fingers and began opening it.
Ernas thought to himself, "This is truly incredible. Even if endless numbers of high-level metaphysical entities gathered together, they would not be able to move this door even slightly. Yet he is opening it as though it were absolutely nothing. Damn, what terrifying power."
The gate finally opened.
Arios said, "The Center of Beginning. I have not come here in a very long time."
Ernas asked, "Is this place really that important?"
Arios said, "Actually, this place is responsible for the beginning of every era, every person, and everything. Everything that has begun or will begin exists within this place. The truths and destinies belonging to every entity that will ever be created in existence are here. And just so you know, the place we are in right now is only one cellular layer away from the tenth layer belonging to your mother."
Ernas said, "What does that mean?"
Arios replied, "It means that we are now outside the very concept of existence itself. We are in absolute nothingness that precedes existence itself and contains it. And this is merely where we are now. Imagine what it would be like if we entered inside."
Ernas asked, "What is inside, beyond what you have already explained to me?"
Arios said, "The inside is not a room, a planet, a universe, or dimensions. Inside, you will find that infinity itself is merely a point through which we travel inside an endless idea. When we enter, do not be shocked. What is inside is not a place your inferior mind may be able to withstand. Even the strongest metaphysical creature, your mother, cannot reach the edge of absolute nothingness by herself. Even her infinite dimensions that she boasts about have no place here. Only absolute sovereignty exists here.
"And it seems you truly received Nora's blessing if you are capable of surviving here. Otherwise, your consciousness would have evaporated and you would have become nothing more than a word floating in this void. Even inside, however, you will need my blessing to survive. So give me your hand."
Arios reached out and touched Ernas's hand. Ernas's body began to glow.
Arios said, "Come. Let us enter. Do not be shocked by what you see."
The two entered, and the gate closed behind them. Their presence completely disappeared from the area.
Meanwhile, in the lower worlds, specifically in the third dimension and on Arios's planet, Izola was sitting when Mythos approached her.
He said, "I was ordered to guard you, my lady."
Izola asked, "Tell me, where did Arios go?"
Mythos replied, "I do not know. He did not tell me, but he will return soon."
Izola sat with Mythos outside while soldiers were cutting down trees, planting crops, and taking care of the entire area.
Izola said, "Arios has changed, Mythos."
He looked at her with his usual coldness and asked, "In what way?"
She said, "I do not know. He has become very frightening recently. He started behaving as though he were not human."
Mythos looked away and did not tell Izola the truth about Arios.
He said, "He must be going through some pressure."
Izola replied, "Actually, he has become strange. He has started using strange abilities I know nothing about. He never used them before. On top of that, he told me he was capable of resurrecting my parents, and he seemed serious when he said it. But he demanded something strange in exchange: my soul. Arios would never ask for something like that. We have lived together for a long time, and he never behaved like this. I simply feel that he is not Arios. I feel as though he has become a stranger to me."
Mythos looked at her and said, "Calm down. As I told you, the leader is going through changes, but with time he will return to how he was."
Izola said, "I hope so. I have started to fear that something might happen to my son because of this."
Suddenly, Mythos felt a strange energy approaching. He stood up and said, "My lady, please go inside. Something is coming."
Suddenly, a light descended from the sky, and a man wearing glasses and formal clothes appeared.
Mythos said, "Who is this?"
Izola looked at him and said, "That is Clinton, a friend of ours."
Suddenly, a blue eye appeared behind Clinton.
Mythos asked, "And who is that?"
Izola looked surprised and said, "Arthur."
Clinton approached and said, "Dear Izola, I finally found you."
Izola said, "Clinton, what brought you here?"
Clinton replied, "Actually, I found what Lord Arios wanted: places where he could invest in order to build a fortune."
Izola looked toward Arthur and said, "Hello, Arthur. It is wonderful to see you."
Arthur replied, "How are you, Izola? It has been a long time."
Clinton said, "Actually, this young man contacted me and told me that he wanted to meet you, so I brought him with me using the transportation device I purchased."
Izola said, "It is really good to see you."
Arthur replied, "Actually, I have a message for you from your brother, Dazai."
Izola's expression changed, and her smile disappeared.
Arthur then took out a letter and handed it to her.
He said, "Well, I have completed my mission. I should leave now."
Izola said, "Wait. Why not stay?"
Arthur replied, "Actually, we are very busy. The situation within the organization is difficult, and Dazai made a decision: to dissolve the entire organization. He said that he wanted to step away and live his life away from attention. He has donated most of his lands to different peoples, and now he is preparing to end the organization. I need to return and help him."
Arthur then asked Clinton to transport him, and Clinton did so.
Afterward, Clinton said, "I wonder where Lord Arios is."
Izola looked away and said, "Very busy."
Clinton replied, "All right. Then I will discuss things with you."
They sat down and began discussing matters, while Mythos stood at a distance watching them.
He sighed and looked toward the horizon.
Meanwhile, at the Center of Beginning, Arios and Ernas were walking through darkness.
Ernas said, "Damn. How long have we been walking?"
Arios replied, "If we calculate it numerically, one hour. But according to the system of your world, approximately one hundred quadrillion years."
Ernas said, "It seems we have traveled a very long distance."
Arios said, "Distance? What distance? We have not moved very far from the entrance. We are walking through a super-space that expands without stopping."
Ernas said in shock, "You mean we have not moved?"
Arios replied, "Not exactly. This place does not recognize distance at all. We are walking through an idea. Imagine that you were walking on dirt, then on water, then on rocks, then you started flying, then swimming, and then you became nothing. That is how it works. We are progressing like that.
"No matter how much you rely on the material concept of distance, this place separates you from your destination. There is no time here, and there is no space. There is only meaning. Without meaning, there is no point in trying.
"Now, try to abandon the concept of your body. Your body is solid. Focus only on your soul and your metaphysical source. And do not worry. My blessing will protect you from becoming lost."
Ernas closed his eyes.
Suddenly, he felt a strange lightness. He opened his eyes and saw random, complicated things that his mind could barely withstand.
Ernas asked, "Where are we?"
Arios replied, "We are now standing on the ear of the Guardian of the Center of Beginning."
The scene changed.
A transparent glass-like entity, resembling a spirit, was motionless and inactive in the middle of darkness.
Its size was enormous beyond description. If infinite dimensions were placed beside it, they would appear as nothing more than an idea inside its mind.
The Guardian remained completely still, holding a tree inside a glass sphere in its hand.
Around it, and throughout the pitch-black void, strange, continuous, overlapping phenomena glowed in different colors.
Ernas asked, "Are we standing on an enormous entity?"
Arios said, "Come."
He then flew with Ernas and showed him the entire entity.
Arios said, "This is the Guardian of the place. It does not move or interact because it holds everything in place so that no errors or acts of chaos can occur here.
"All those spheres you see floating around it are sources. Each source is the beginning of different things. For example, the one that appears green and black is the source and beginning of the concept of power for every person in existence. That one there is the beginning of time. That one is the beginning of energy. That one is the beginning of magic. That one is the beginning of entities. That one is the beginning of dreams.
"There are countless other things I cannot name because there are too many. But this entity is responsible for and guards all of them. It is currently in a state of complete meditation to maintain balance between everything."
Ernas asked, "And you are capable of defeating that thing?"
Arios replied, "Why would I defeat it? I am the one who created it in the first place."
Ernas said, "Then what are we going to do?"
Arios replied, "Look there. Those beginnings move as though they were a flowing river, and their path leads toward the Center of Ending."
Ernas said, "The Center of Ending?"
Arios replied, "Yes. Just as there is a Center of Beginning, there is an end to everything. There is another Guardian similar to this one, except that the other place contains different things.
"Look between the Guardian's hands. There is a tree. That tree is the concept of the beginning of everything, and from it grow the remaining beginnings.
"On the other side, there is a tree called the Tree of Ending. That place contains Hell and Paradise, along with things your mind cannot understand no matter how much I explain them.
"These are two connected worlds, even though logically each is separate from the other. Yet they represent a single path. Every beginning has an ending, and every ending has a beginning."
Ernas asked, "And you are the one who rules them?"
Arios replied, "Yes. Correct. Perhaps in my original form, I would have ended the matter we came here for immediately. Unfortunately, in this form, we will need to work for a longer period."
Ernas said, "So you are not at your full strength right now?"
Arios replied, "Yes. And I know what you are thinking right now. You think you are capable of facing me. But so that I do not disappoint you, the moment you release your intent to attack me, you will find yourself reduced to nothing more than a drawing on a book. So I do not recommend trying.
"And besides, if it were not for Nora, I would not have worked with you at all. I am tolerating all of this only for her sake."
Ernas said, "You truly have not changed. You are still the person who sees everyone as beneath you."
Arios replied arrogantly and confidently, "Correct, my boy. Now follow me."
The two descended onto a smooth white land beneath a blue sky, with overlapping landscapes.
Ernas asked, "Where are we?"
Arios said, "Do you see that sphere? To others, it represents the past, present, and future. But to us right now, it is simply a sphere floating here.
"Inside that sphere is a dimension containing records and archives of every material creature. We will enter it and eliminate those specific versions of me."
Ernas asked, "Wouldn't killing them affect you?"
Arios replied, "Why would it affect me? I am an entity beyond time and space. What could possibly affect me?"
Ernas said, "I do not know, but the matter seems somewhat confusing."
Arios said, "Do not worry. Those are merely possibilities and parallel events contained within that sphere. Come. Nothing will happen."
Ernas swallowed and said, "All right. It is on your responsibility."
The two walked forward and entered the sphere, appearing inside a narrow space through which all possibilities extended.
Arios said, "We are now inside the fifth dimension."
Ernas asked, "What are we going to do?"
Arios replied, "I could erase all these infinite possibilities right now, but that would be boring. Watch this."
Arios entered one of the parallel worlds and appeared before a version of himself who was training.
The version looked surprised and asked, "Who are you?"
Arios replied, "I am merely an ending that has come to take you."
Suddenly, Arios pierced the version's head with his arm and pulled out his brain, killing him without a single drop of blood.
Arios said, "Disgusting."
He threw the brain onto the ground and returned to the fifth-dimensional space.
Ernas said, "Wait. Why did you kill him? We could simply erase the source without hurting them."
Arios replied, "No. I came here to have fun."
They entered another parallel world where a version of Arios was killing a group of children in a barren desert.
Arios said, "Do you see that thing? Is it evil?"
Ernas looked at him and said, "That is you."
Arios replied, "It does not matter. Let us eliminate him."
The two approached him.
The version looked at them and asked, "Who are you two, and why do you look like me?"
Arios said, "In reality, we are not friends, and you know why we came here."
The version replied, "I will kill both of you."
He flew toward them, but before he could realize what was happening, his head was already in Arios's hand. His body fell far away and he died.
Arios threw the head onto the ground.
After that, they began traveling between worlds, killing every version they encountered: children, adults, evil versions, kind versions, rich versions, poor versions, versions with families, versions without families—every kind imaginable.
They eliminated an enormous number of versions.
After a very long time, several months had passed in the material world, while in those dimensions, years of killing had passed.
Ernas said, "Damn. The more we kill, the more appear."
Arios asked, "Tell me, do you remember how many versions we have eliminated?"
Ernas said, "I do not remember."
Arios replied, "We have spent a very long period of human time doing this. We have killed approximately eight hundred decillion versions so far."
Ernas was shocked by the number and said, "You still remember all of that?"
Arios replied, "Of course. Counting them is wonderful. But I am genuinely starting to get bored. Come, let us end this."
In the next world, the intended version of Arios was running from something and hiding behind a rock.
One of his hands had been severed.
He sat on the ground. After making sure the people chasing him had left, he looked at the ground and said, "Damn. What have I done? All I wanted was a piece of bread. Why is this world so cruel? If only I had been born powerful and wealthy, this would never have happened to me."
Suddenly, Arios was sitting above him.
He said, "It really is difficult, isn't it?"
The version was shocked and asked, "Who are you?"
Suddenly, Ernas's foot struck the version, killing him instantly.
Arios said, "Interesting. You have not allowed me to kill many of them for a while, while you have been content with doing that."
Ernas replied, "You will accomplish the harder part, so let me enjoy myself a little by punishing evil."
Arios said, "I see. Fine. How about you kill another version in a parallel universe? One similar to this one, except that this version achieved everything that this poor fool dreamed of."
Ernas replied, "It does not matter. They all need to be exterminated anyway."
Arios said, "Fine. Let us go."
He then transported them to that world, where a version of Arios had become a tyrant who had achieved everything anyone could dream of, yet he was still dissatisfied and constantly desired more.
Ernas said, "Scum."
That version was torturing people and literally using them as livestock.
Ernas descended toward him and said, "Leave this one to me."
Arios replied, "Fine. I will wait outside the world."
Ernas descended while the version was torturing a small girl because she could not endure walking over her and had fallen. He struck her violently as she cried.
Suddenly, Ernas's voice was heard calling him.
The version looked at him.
Ernas said, "Step away from the girl."
The version laughed and said, "How amusing. You have the same face as me. Are you some kind of impostor?"
Suddenly, the version picked up the girl and said, "You want her? Fine. Take her."
He threw her toward Ernas.
As Ernas was about to catch her, the version detonated her.
Ernas was shocked, but he maintained his composure and muttered, "Eight hundred decillion versions. And not a single one of them had any goodness within them. Every version we killed deserved what happened to them. Not a single version possessed even a fragment of purity in its heart."
The version of Arios said, "What are you muttering about?"
Suddenly, he flew toward Ernas.
Ernas caught him with one hand and punched him directly in the face, knocking him to the ground in front of everyone.
Then Ernas delivered a single blow that shattered his skull.
He looked at everyone and said, "You are free now. There is no longer any tyrant ruling over you. Live as you wish."
Then he disappeared.
Everyone was stunned.
They looked toward Arios's corpse, and suddenly joy spread throughout the entire place.
Ernas approached Arios.
Arios said, "I can feel your anger. Right now, you want to kill me more than any other version."
Ernas replied, "Good that you know."
Arios said, "I think this has reached its end."
He snapped his fingers, and all the possibilities that had been created disappeared.
Arios said, "Do you see that? That is the source of those parallel universes."
Arios destroyed it and said, "There is no longer any version of Arios anywhere, in any time or place."
Ernas said, "Good."
Arios stood up and said, "All right. I will return and continue my life."
Ernas said, "Wait."
Arios looked at him and asked, "What is it?"
Suddenly, Ernas took out a strange feather.
Arios asked, "What is that?"
Ernas replied, "Actually, it is a gift from Nora to her beloved Eldi Prime."
Ernas then drove the feather into Arios's heart.
Arios began screaming.
He felt an endless shock surging through his body.
His inner voice said, "Damn. What is happening?"
Arios, still being electrocuted but smiling at Ernas, said, "I think the plan succeeded."
Suddenly, the voice said, "What plan?"
Arios's body began glowing.
He screamed intensely.
Half of his body began becoming normal, while the other half remained metaphysical.
His body trembled violently, and the entire world shook.
Ernas moved away from the area.
Suddenly, a massive explosion filled the place with light.
Arios awoke and looked around.
He was shocked by what he saw.
He saw Eldi Prime holding Ernas by the neck, floating close to him.
Arios stood still and looked at himself in the form of Eldi Prime, standing there while choking Ernas by the neck.
Then Eldi Prime looked toward Arios, smiled, and flew toward him, attempting to return to him.
Suddenly, the inner voice spoke:
"Goodbye, partner."
A barrier suddenly appeared between Arios and Eldi Prime.
Eldi Prime tried to destroy it, but he could not.
Arios, sitting on the ground, said, "Finally. I have freed myself from you, you disgusting entity. Do you know how long I have waited for this moment?"
Eldi Prime began surrounding himself with armor and said, "You will not abandon me that easily. We are one. You cannot separate yourself from me."
Arios replied, "No. We were never one. You are a curse that became attached to me. I was merely a sacrifice in which I had no choice, all for the satisfaction of parties I hate."
Eldi Prime said, "Ernas, do not make a stupid mistake. Return to me immediately. You are nothing without me. I made you the greatest entity in existence. You cannot leave me like this."
Arios replied, "Go to hell, you and everyone who supports you. I have nothing to do with you. I knew from the beginning that this would be Nora's plan, and I pretended to cooperate with it only so I could achieve my own desire. This was an opportunity I could not refuse, you worthless entity. And I also do not know why she used the idiot Ernas, but he turned out to be a useful piece as well."
Eldi Prime said, "You think you will escape from this? You have committed an existential crime by doing this. Now you are wanted, and no one will leave you alone—not even me—because of what you have done."
Arios said, "I know what happened. But the one who killed those people was Eldi Prime, correct? I am not him, so you are the one responsible for that. Hahaha."
Eldi Prime said, "You really are evil, Arios."
Arios replied, "It does not matter how you see me. What matters now is that I will return to that place where neither you, nor Nora, nor anyone else can reach me.
"Because of you, I discovered that those worlds are separate worlds and that they do not fall under your authority in the narrative. As you used to describe them, they exist inside my head as an anomalous world created from nothing, like a mistake that must be eliminated. Am I not correct?"
Ernas said, "Good that you understand these details. I gave you the ability to act, but I wanted you to have a mind of your own. You proved to me that you were intelligent, boy.
"But you forgot something important. You are now nothing more than an ordinary human. You do not possess my power or my authority. No one will help you. You have become a speck compared to even the most insignificant metaphysical creature in existence.
"Therefore, you have no choice but to return to me now. I promise I will forget what you did, and nothing will happen to you from anyone."
Arios replied, "No. The rule says: trust pure evil, but never trust a metaphysical entity.
"And besides, I have lived through countless ages with you. I came to understand that you are a disgusting person, and you inherited that disgust from yourself. You believe that no one in this world is equal to you simply because you are the strongest. But you forgot that power itself can one day become the reason for its owner's downfall."
Arios walked forward and opened a dimensional gate.
He said, "This will send me to the material world immediately."
Ernas looked at him and said, "Stop. Come back now. You will not survive without me."
Arios replied, "You are weak now without a body. You are nothing. Your true power is in the hands of your damn author, and now you are screaming at me. Goodbye, Eldi Prime. I hope you enjoy eternity."
Arios jumped through the gate while laughing with an evil laugh.
Eldi Prime screamed in extreme anger.
Then he looked toward Ernas, rapidly flew toward him, and possessed him.
Ernas began screaming.
His hair turned black, and his eyes changed color.
He stood up as Eldi Prime.
Eldi Prime said, "This body is truly good. I must regain my power. If I am going to recover Ernas, he will not escape me. I promise you will return to me, you bastard."
Eldi Prime flew away from the place, breaking through the Center of Beginning until he reached absolute nothingness.
He flew upward and suddenly disappeared completely from the absolute void.