"Deal?"
At the Fate System's words, Slayer frowned, deep in thought, 'Gehera is proving to be troublesome for him to deal with, so he wishes to use my power to be rid of her. I too need her power to grow strong enough to face any threat in the future. But, I shouldn't play into this brat's hands.'
"You want to deal with the rest?" Slayer laughed in mockery, "Are you strong enough?"
"I am strong enough," The Fate System snorted in response, emanating a frightening amount of pressure, "I alone am enough to deal with the rest."
"Guess it's a pity," Slayer sighed as he turned around and began to leave, "The risk is too much for the rewards. Gehera alone isn't valuable enough to risk my life at this point in time."
"This bastard…" The Fate System glared in response, "Don't play hard to get. I know you're desperate for Gehera's strength."
"I already know everything through fate."
"Wow, you must know everything, huh?" Slayer laughed, "But so what? I have no intention to take action against Gehera."
"What will you do now? Invite Zaira?" His prior tension vanished like a mirage as he stared at the Fate System in mockery, "I no longer wish to be a part of this. So…"
He approached the end of the Serpent Universe, pointing at its mouth, "Open this, will you? I'll take my leave."
"Your only option of leaving this place is through death." The Fate System glared at Slayer, "Do you take me for a fool? The location of the Serpent Universe has already been leaked to you. Without enough benefit in response, I'm not allowing you to take a step away."
"Alright, make me." Slayer snorted as his presence spiked, causing the Serpent Universe to tremble in response. He was ready to retaliate.
He was in truth nervous about this whole ordeal. But this was the only chance he could get where Gehera's power was his for the taking. He wasn't sure if he would get such a great opportunity in the future.
Arnark's attack severely depleted the foundations of Stencil, Gehera, and Earth Star. So, the variables regarding luck and fate that they could rely upon to change their situation didn't exist.
This meant that as long as his plan was firm enough, he could win against them with a guarantee. That was why when the Fate System transmitted the location of the Serpent Universe to him, he arrived promptly.
But it was also a fact that fighting them would weaken him a lot. And in this situation, that was dangerous, especially since Zaira was breathing down his back.
Upon arriving at the place and observing the elements at play, he decided the risk was too much, especially considering the damage the Fate System had suffered.
Even though the other party tried his best to hide it, Slayer was experienced. And he could see that the Fate System had been beaten up severely, having also taken a blow to his core. 'This means that even if I were to win, I would suffer a blow to my foundation. Normally, I would be able to recover from it, but in this situation where I'm focusing on Arak and Anak's growth, it's dangerous.'
He was grooming Arak and Anak into perfect subordinates for his use. He didn't wish the status quo to be affected. And hence, he was ready to face the Fate System, "I won't repeat myself. Either you open the entrance or I'm blowing up a hole through it."
"Heh!" Suddenly, the Fate System's expression turned into ridicule as he muttered, "I was just buying time."
Immediately in response, in their closest station, the teleportation centre manifested a portal, through which a loud roar resounded, "Gilthruuu!"
'She's finally here. Thankfully, I already arranged for the invaders to keep all the portals functioning. Thanks to that, she could make a beeline here in a matter of minutes.' The Fate System smirked cunningly.
When he signed in to the Serpent Universe, he obtained a key which was a replica of the same that Compass Carburettor had given Gehera. The wielder of this key was able to control the actions of the Serpent Universe, which was how the Serpent Universe was on a constant run.
Gehera had been controlling it all along. But through the replica, the Fate System caused a mishap, forcing the Serpent Universe to destroy one of Mystique's worlds with its tail. His actions triggered Gehera already, for she was feeling responsible.
After all, the responsibility of the Serpent Universe was placed on her shoulders by Compass Carburettor.
"Shit!" Slayer's expression turned serious as he realised he had fallen prey to the Fate System's scheme, watching Gehera leap out of the portal.
And accompanying her was an ethereal creature brimming with insanity. When the tail of the Serpent Universe was infected by the chaos element of Mystique's world, using Hazen's power that she had in her Ruin of Amagoth, Gehera erected a formation.
She created a magic beast whose sole function was to devour this element of chaos, no matter how insanity-driven it became. The magic beast managed to devour everything ambiently present as Gehera pulled it with her and passed through the portal stations installed by the dragon plushies.
She then rushed into the enemy line and barged into their portal, using it to rapidly travel through the top half of the Serpent Universe. The moment she sensed Slayer's presence through the key—controlling the Serpent Universe—in her possession, Gehera was gripped by rage.
Normally, she would still retain her bearings and not rush forward recklessly. But her mind was now corrupted by the chaos element. So, she wasn't in her right mind to objectively make sense of her action.
"Gilthru! For the sin of killing my family, I'll butcher you!" Gehera roared in rage as she threw the magic beast of insanity at him, causing it to explode as the entire head region of the Serpent Universe was now infected by the element of chaos.
"Devour!"
"Arise!"
"Snatch!"
"Prey!"
Slayer suddenly began to hear strange voices in his mind, affecting his focus. They were actually the thoughts of the people in the Fantasy World. Usually, these voices were so faint that even a million of them wouldn't be audible even if Slayer were to focus his entirety on them.
But now, drunk on the element of chaos, each of these voices got alarmingly loud, enough to echo in his mind incessantly. Slayer's eyes were bloodthirsty as he glared at Gehera, observing through the corner of his eyes at the figures of Arak and Anak that fainted while blood oozed out of their orifices.
In madness, they screamed.
