Arios said, "This is disgusting. Fuck you, Eldie Prime. You have shown traits that I despise. That is why I hate metaphysical beings. It doesn't matter. If necessary, I will kill that child if anything happens that ruins my life."
Arios flew away from the place, and a screen displaying his honor meter appeared. His honor had dropped to 1%.
Arios said, "Fuck you, meter. Go to hell."
The System told him, "If your honor continues to decrease, your personality will change. The meter has dropped far too much, and this is dangerous."
Arios replied, "We'll see."
Arios stood on an asteroid in deep space and said, "Tell me why it decreased."
The System showed him the actions Arios had committed that caused his honor to decrease. There were many reasons, such as deceiving people, killing innocent individuals, and causing the deaths of 800 decillion beings across parallel worlds through brutal and merciless methods. He also enjoyed destruction without caring about the lives of others.
The System said, "Your honor has risen several times, but then it fell again. For example, you once restored the universes, but there were no other good deeds. The percentage of bad deeds throughout your life is 99%, while the good deeds account for only 1%. Those good deeds include saving the Acrit people in the past and saving Planet Earth several times in the Sixth World alone. Your record contains almost no acts of kindness whatsoever. You are considered a Black Man."
Arios said, "A Black Man?"
The System said, "Meaning someone who causes more disasters than good."
Arios laughed and said, "That's wonderful."
The System said, "The scale was not determined only by what happened during the 38 years you have lived in this world. The scale has been running since the moment you were born as Trenas da Mira. After you became Eldie Prime, the scale continued to measure you. Throughout your entire life, you have hardly ever done anything good."
Arios was shocked by what he heard. The System even knew about his entire previous life. He felt somewhat uneasy and said, "How did you know those details?"
The System said, "I cannot answer that."
Arios said, "What do you know about what I did?"
The System replied, "The simplest thing you did was imprison a civilization living in the Fourth Layer and force them to survive by eating one another."
Arios smiled and said, "That was wonderful back then."
"And what else do you know?"
The System said, "I have statistics showing that you caused a curse to spread across the inhabitants of entire layers, making them suffer from silver blood for quadrillions of years."
Arios said, "Yes. That blood made them burn from the inside."
The System continued, "You also committed massacres by erasing, mutilating, removing, starving, fragmenting, and exiling countless creatures. You created a species to enslave those creatures. You created monsters that consumed their resources until they were completely wiped out. And you did... and you did... and you did..."
Arios said, "Okay, I understand. I really did a lot. Those metaphysical creatures deserved it, and they deserved even more. That is why I consider myself their savior."
The System said, "All of those actions were counted in your honor measurement. And for your information, the higher your honor was, the easier your life became. The lower your honor was, the harder your life would become."
Arios said, "My life will not be determined by some stupid system. Get lost. How ridiculous."
Arios flew away from the place while laughing hysterically.
After that, he headed back home. A System screen appeared, but it was not for him. It was for us.
It said, "I warned him, and he did not listen."
Meanwhile, in the special world of the soldiers, Mythos was training intensely with Raynos in the middle of the arena. The two collided, causing a massive storm throughout the area.
Raynos said, "You've improved a lot."
Mythos smiled and said, "So have you. You've become stronger."
The two stopped and Mythos looked at the enormous numbers of soldiers gathering in the area.
"What is happening, Raynos?"
Raynos looked at him calmly and said, "The Supreme Commander ordered all of us to gather here. No one knows the reason yet."
Raynos said, "I hope it's something good."
Elora landed beside them and said, "One division of the army will arrive soon. After that, we will wait for the commander."
Raynos said, "It seems the reason for gathering us is very important."
Elora said, "Yes. Gathering the entire army like this can only mean that we are approaching a major event in the outside world."
Arios arrived on his planet and entered while extremely angry. He began punching the ground around him. Craters started appearing from his blows.
Izola felt severe vibrations and came outside. She saw Arios punching and destroying everything around him.
She approached him to stop him, but when she touched him, he struck her in the mouth, sending her flying away.
Arios immediately realized what he had done. He ran toward her, caught her, and said, "Are you okay? I didn't mean to do that."
A little blood flowed from Izola's mouth.
Arios carried her inside, immediately went to get the medical bag, and began cleaning her wound while she looked at him with tears held back in her eyes.
Arios apologized and said, "Please forgive me. I really didn't mean to. I didn't know you were coming toward me."
She looked at him and said, "It's okay. I was wrong too because I rushed toward you without thinking, my dear."
He looked at her, held her hands, kissed them, and said, "Please don't be sad because of me."
Then he stood up and punched himself in the face.
She was shocked. Blood began flowing from his mouth.
Izola shouted at him, "What did you do, you idiot?!"
He looked at her and said, "Come on. Now return the favor. Take your revenge on me, just as I hurt you."
His eyes were burning with anger.
She said, "I'm not angry with you. Why would you hurt yourself like this? Please, don't hurt yourself again over something so trivial."
She then took a disinfected cloth, placed it over the wound on his mouth, and said fearfully, "Never hurt yourself again. I hate seeing you hurt like this."
He looked at her and said, "But I hurt you. I can't even stand seeing you get scratched, so how could I live with knowing that I caused you pain myself?"
She hugged him and said, "All I want is for you to stay beside me. That's all. I don't want anything else."
Arios hugged her and said, "I promise you that."
They sat together, and Izola said to him, "Tell me what made you so angry."
He looked at her and said, "Nothing."
She said, "You went somewhere with someone this morning, and when you came back, you were angry. Something must have happened. Tell me, my dear. We'll solve it together."
He looked at her, then remembered that he had betrayed her and that he had a child with another woman. He said, "It's really nothing. Just trust me."
He said it coldly.
Then he embraced her and said, "You are the only one I love. And never think that I have ever done anything without you benefiting from it."
Izola looked at him while in his arms and smiled.
"I know you mean that. I love you too, and I never want us to separate, no matter what happens, my dear. I'm very happy, but I feel that problems will appear, and I'm afraid of that. Will we ever live normally?"
Arios said, "Yes. We will live a normal life. After all, there is no one left to disturb our lives. I've gotten rid of all of that."
She looked at him and said, "Stop saying things like that. I want you to promise me one thing."
Arios looked at her.
She stood up, sat beside him, and said, "What is it?"
She replied, "I want us to live as a normal, perfect family. From now on, no killing, no destruction, and nothing like that. Just think about living a normal life with your family and think about doing normal work."
Arios looked at her and smiled.
"As you command, my lady."
Then he said, "I promise you that after I finish my last task, we will live only for each other. No problems, no supernatural phenomena, nothing sad or terrible. Just an ordinary life. But give me some time."
She said, "Okay. But until then, don't talk to me."
He looked at her, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and said, "But that doesn't mean I can't hug you."
She smiled and said, "I don't mind that."
The two laughed together.
Afterward, Arios left the house and traveled to his soldiers.
As soon as he arrived, his smile disappeared.
He stood on a hill resembling a platform. Below him stood 100 trillion soldiers of every species, waiting for his words.
He looked at them and said, "Do you know why I brought you all here, my followers?"
They looked at him and answered simultaneously, "Yes."
Arios repeated, "Yes?"
They answered again, "Yes."
Arios looked at them and said, "Today I am angry, and at the same time, I am happy. Today, we are a force that no one can stop in any world. And my ambition is higher and higher than where I am now.
"Therefore, starting tomorrow, we will establish our message to the world.
"Although I have no ambition to become a king, ruler, or master of any world, I have realized that the only path to safety is to never leave anyone an opportunity to oppose you.
"So from today onward, we will become the source of danger, not those who oppose it.
"I have never believed in anything called justice or heroism in my life. Those are merely excuses hypocrites use to hide their mistakes and flaws.
"We are not here to represent evil, nor do we represent good. We represent ourselves.
"We have the right to live without waiting for an unknown tomorrow.
"Instead of remaining hidden and waiting for disaster, let us become that disaster—the disaster that will control everything."
The soldiers' voices rose throughout the entire area as they cheered for their Supreme Leader.
After that, Arios descended into the arena.
The five commanders—Elira, Gillion, Dark, Raynos, and Zaikors—approached him.
Arios said to them, "We will control everything. We will show no mercy to those who oppose us. Anyone who does not agree with our rule, kill them. Anyone who resists you, kill them. Anyone who causes you trouble, kill them all. Leave only those who deserve to live. Anyone else, kill them."
The commanders replied, "As you command, my lord."
Gillion said, "My lord, shall we depart now?"
Arios said, "No, not yet. First, I want to create a plan. My goal now is to eliminate the major rulers. Once they fall, the rest of the hierarchy will collapse. I will kill the ruler of everything first."
All the commanders looked at him and said, "As you wish, my lord."
Then Arios said, "Now I will announce it to them face-to-face."
And he did exactly that.
Arios sat upon a throne made for him by his soldiers and began a broadcast.
The creatures of Worlds 10 and 0 all saw screens appear in the sky.
In Nahira's palace, while she was sitting and drinking tea, Smith approached her and said, "My lady, come and watch this."
Nahira said, "What is it?"
She was shocked to see Arios sitting arrogantly on a throne of dark metal.
He began speaking:
"To everyone living in every corner of this world, I am Mira Arios. I am a simple, humble man, and I have never killed an ant in my life."
Izola saw what was happening in the sky and said, "What are you doing, Arios?"
Izek said, "Mom, Dad is on the screen in the sky! This is amazing!"
Izola felt worried about what was happening.
In the Sixth World, the same scene was also being broadcast across the sky above Raymos's planet.
Everyone was watching.
Lina said, "Brother, I wonder what he is doing."
Raymos replied, "We'll find out now."
Arios continued:
"In truth, I am a man who loves freedom. I hate the idea of one person ruling another simply because they possess some power. This makes me sick. Where is the justice in that?"
People of every race and species watched Arios's speech.
One of them said, "Isn't that the criminal who once had the highest bounty in the world?"
Another said, "It really is him. The man known as the Black Eye. I heard he is dangerous and a killer."
Arios continued speaking in the broadcast:
"I am someone who always seeks to help everyone, and I do not favor one person over another.
"So listen carefully to me.
"Within 24 hours, I will personally go and eliminate the ruler of everything with these two hands. I will wipe out every ruling layer in this world so that ordinary people can live freely rather than being controlled, as you believe.
"But there is a price for that.
"Everyone who supports what I am about to do will live.
"But everyone who opposes me will be killed.
"Simply put, we will live in an equal world. The strong have no right over the weak, and the weak have no right over those weaker than themselves.
"With that, I end my message.
"Those who agree with me will survive and live in that world.
"Those who reject me will die.
"That is true justice.
"What is the point of a creature looking down on someone beneath them when they themselves are beneath another being of a higher rank?
"So this is the end of my words and the beginning of my actions."
The screen then shut down.
Everyone was left stunned by what they had heard.
Some felt fear. Others were shocked. Others liked the idea, while some were repulsed by it.
Dazai, who was sitting inside a simple wooden cabin while drinking a great deal of wine, watched what happened and said:
"Now everyone who possesses power has an opinion and a platform from which to speak about justice and equality.
"We have reached a world where, if someone becomes arrogant for even a moment, they think the whole world is in the palm of their hand.
"How truly ridiculous."
Suddenly, someone knocked on his door.
He went to open it and discovered that it was his son, Zaya.
Dazai, whose face was full of gloom, said, "Oh, Zaya. So it's you."
Zaya entered and said, "Father, don't tell me you've drowned yourself in drinking again."
Dazai said, "It's okay, my son. It helps me."
Zaya sat down and said, "Father, staying here alone so much is bad. You need to live among people."
Dazai said, "I discovered that solitude teaches you things about yourself that you never knew, my son."
Zaya said, "I wish you would come and live with me and Mother."
Dazai said, "I abandoned the life of organizations so I could live in this peace. I no longer have the passion to do anything, my son. You know what? It is good that you talk to me from time to time. It makes me feel that I still have value because at least someone remembers me."
Zaya said, "Don't say that, Father. You know I will always be by your side, under any circumstances."
Dazai smiled despite the exhaustion visible on his face.
"That truly makes me happy."
After a short conversation, Zaya left the cabin and found his mother standing in front of the hill.
He said, "Mom, did you come to see Father?"
She said, "Go to work. I'll talk to him for a while."
Zaya left because it was time for him to work.
Celys knocked on Dazai's door.
"Come in," he said. "It isn't locked anyway."
Celys entered and found the cabin in complete disarray, with wine bottles scattered everywhere. Dazai was sitting beside the fireplace.
Dazai looked at her and smiled.
"Oh, the ice breaker herself. Celys, did you come to lecture me about going outside and seeing the sun?"
She replied, "No. I came to tell you that your condition is terrible, and I pity you."
Dazai laughed.
"You're cruel as always."
She said, "I want to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"I want to know who killed my sister."
Dazai looked at her.
"You're still holding on to this? I told you to forget it. Revenge is a bad path."
Celys said, "Do you want me to live my life while my sister's killer walks around freely without punishment?"
He said, "Listen to me. If you find your enemy and succeed in killing him, someone else will come and decide to take revenge on you. Then another person will come to avenge the one who killed you, and so on.
"Revenge is a circle of endless loss.
"Ask me. I lost my parents when I was young, and even then, I could not avenge them. If I had, the same thing would happen to me, and someone would seek revenge against me."
Celys said angrily, "And what about Arlin's blood? Will it be shed for nothing?"
He said, "No, it will not be for nothing. If your sister were still alive, she would leave her enemy behind because she understood that.
"So please, forget about it.
"Live for one thing: your son, who is always trying to make you happy.
"If he lost you, what do you think his response would be?
"Tell me.
"The answer is revenge.
"So stay away from these matters and live your normal life."
Then Dazai smiled and said, "Would you like to play chess with me?"
She looked at him and said, "When did you change your ways?"
"But fine. I'll pretend I'm convinced by what you said. However, I will not give up on this. I will take my sister's rights from whoever did this to her."
Dazai said, "If he isn't already dead."
Celys replied, "Maybe."
After that, Dazai brought out the chessboard, and the two began playing chess.
Meanwhile, in Nahira's palace, after hearing what had happened, Nahira clenched her teeth and said bitterly:
"Arios, do you intend to go this far with me?"
Smith said, "My lady, he seems serious about his threat. This is a person who never jokes about what he says."
Nahira said, "I know that. I just want to know what turned his heart against me. I thought that he…"
She fell silent.
Smith said, "Is something wrong, my lady?"
Nahira replied, "No. Leave now. I want to be alone for a while."
After Smith left, Nahira stood up, grabbed her teacup, and threw it against the wall.
"Were you manipulating me all this time, you bastard? You only used me to accomplish your goals. Damn you, Arios! I will never forgive you for what you did to me."
Her daughter, Nora, entered the room.
Nahira looked toward the door and said, "I did not order anyone to come in."
Then she suddenly saw her daughter.
The child said, "Mom, why are you so angry?"
Nahira approached her, picked her up, and said, "Nothing, sweetheart. I just fell down, that's all."
Nora said, "Mom, don't cry. I don't like seeing you cry."
Nahira smiled and said, "I won't cry, sweetheart. Don't worry. Just don't think about it right now. Tell me, would you like to go on a little trip?"
Nora said, "A trip?"
Nahira said, "Yes. A trip with Uncle Smith. He will take you on an outing for a while because I have some work I want to finish. When I'm done, we'll have ice cream together."
Nora smiled and said, "That sounds wonderful, Mom. I'd love that."
After some time, Nahira called Smith and ordered him to take Nora far away and hide her somewhere no one could find them until she was completely certain that Arios would be defeated.
Smith said, "Understood, my lady."
And so, that night, Smith departed with little Nora.
At the palace gate, while they were walking away, Nora suddenly turned around and ran back to hug her mother.
Nahira knelt down and said, "Take care of yourself, sweetheart."
For the first time, Nahira began to cry. Tears fell from her eyes like never before.
Nora said, "Mom, after the trip, we'll go together to your old home, right?"
Nahira replied, "Yes, sweetheart. I promise you."
Smith then picked Nora up and said, "Come on, my little lady."
He flew away with her.
Nahira stared toward the horizon.
Then she covered her face, wiped away her tears, and said, "What are these feelings? This has never happened to me before."
She then ordered the guards to gather all her forces and all the rulers in her palace before morning.
And so, countless soldiers began mobilizing and preparing.
One of Nahira's assistants approached her and said, "My lady, will we win?"
Nahira replied, "Certainly. Our opponent has revealed his plan, and we will be prepared."
Nahira sat upon her throne.
She was worried about only one thing: Arios's metaphysical power.
That was the only thing that concerned her.
As she sat on her throne, she suddenly heard a voice calling her.
It sounded very familiar.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the hall.
Nahira was shocked by what she saw.
Ernas was standing before her.
She thought he was Arios and immediately rose from her place and attacked him.
However, he stopped her with a single finger.
Then he smiled terrifyingly and said, "Don't worry. I am not the person you think I am."
Nahira stepped back and said, "What do you mean?"
He said, "I am Eldie Prime. I am the one who amazed you with my abilities."
She said, "What do you mean?"
He replied, "Everything Arios was doing belonged to me. I was the one who granted him the power to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
"Don't worry. I am here to help you."
Nahira said, "Help me? Why should I trust you?"
Eldie Prime said, "Because we have the same enemy: Trenas, or Arios, as you call him.
"He is someone who abandoned me. He abandoned the absolute power I gave him just so he could live freely.
"What foolishness.
"I gave him a golden spoon, and he threw it away and betrayed me.
"Now he wants to destroy a noble and beautiful lady like you just so he can impose his tyranny and influence.
"And I do not like that."
Nahira said, "How will you help me?"
He said, "Simply by defeating him.
"If you do that, I will be able to take control of him again.
"And then we will have won, and everything will return to the way it was."
Nahira said, "Then why don't you defeat him yourself?"
Eldie Prime replied, "Unfortunately, I cannot enter this world because I do not possess my true body or my full authority.
"The body I am using now is also his true body in another world. This is merely an inferior reflection of him, and I was forced to use it to come here through you."
Nahira said, "Through me?"
Eldie Prime replied, "Yes, through you.
"Do not forget that your soul belongs to me. You gave it to me once."
Nahira remembered the day she had given her soul to Arios.
Then she said, "So you were the one deceiving me all this time?"
Eldie Prime said, "No. I was merely fascinated by you and wanted you to become my medium. That is all.
"That is why I took your soul, and thanks to that, I am here now. I was able to enter this world through you and reach you.
"So, will you help me defeat Trenas?
"If we do that, I will grant you power beyond anything you have ever dreamed of. I may even make you the queen of things your mind cannot comprehend."
Nahira hesitated.
"Fine. But tell me, what if Arios is prepared?"
Eldie Prime said, "Don't worry. I will give you power that will help you.
"I may not currently possess the ability to grant you absolute power, but it will be a terrifying force added to your own strength, making you an entity that cannot be defeated or resisted.
"However, your body will not be able to withstand the power I give you. Therefore, use it only when absolutely necessary."
Nahira said, "I agree. But if you are deceiving me, you will pay the price as well."
Eldie Prime laughed.
"Don't worry. Trust me. I never betray a promise.
"And besides, your fate is in my hands. Why would I betray you when you are already in my hands?"
Then Eldie Prime extended his hand toward Nahira and pulled her soul out of her body.
He began manipulating it in his hand.
"I will turn you into an entity that everyone will fear."
Then he began laughing hysterically.