"After fighting Jared, I expected more of a challenge from you…"
Legris was smiling as he stared down at the shimmering being before him.
She had a glorious white form, with golden designs around her. Her body radiated purity, and her long hair matched her flowing white gown.
Usually, she would be able to manifest her full glory. However, right now that wasn't possible.
She was currently being held by countless chains that seared through her the more she struggled to break free.
These chains were made with End Magic, and the Spell was one that Legris had designed specifically for this moment.
Everything had been planned… all for her defeat.
"… But to think it would be this simple."
With a sneer, Legris narrowed his eyes on Aether.
He knew fully well why Jared had fared better than Aether in their brief exchange.
'She has no battle prowess.'
It was the same with the Constellations, but at the very least, Constellations had numerous Hosts, and they often interacted with reality in some kind of indirect way.
They had witnessed and even partaken in several conflicts, aiding their Hosts in more ways than one.
But for Aether, there was no such thing.
She existed outside the bounds of everything that existed, within the ROOT of her Tree, monitoring it all and serving as the ceremonial head to a functioning world.
In essence, despite having so much power, she could not use it.
"Truly pathetic. What a pathetic existence you are." Legris smiled at her.
It was funny how oddly distinct they were.
"Life is hilarious, isn't it? I was born without power, yet developed ways on how to use it. You were born with all the power in the world, and you can not apply it."
Legris could not help but conclude that this world was intentionally designed this way.
Perhaps it was to keep the balance, or to regulate existence, or whatever else it was.
He didn't care anymore.
"Everything is going to end, anyway." He took a few steps closer to the constrained Aether, who was staring at him with an expressionless face.
"I have the coordinates of the Aether Root, and I was able to obtain the Nether Root coordinates earlier, meaning I have both in my grasp now…" He murmured, ignoring the gaze of the Primordial Entity on him.
"Once I'm done absorbing you, I'll also absorb the Nether and finally possess your abilities as well. With enough of that power, I should have more than enough to withstand it."
Finally, now face to face with Aether, he opened his lips and uttered the words.
"[All Things]."
The moment he uttered those words, Aether narrowed her eyes.
"So you know… about [All Things]. It all makes sense now." Aether whispered as she stared at him.
"Yes. Right at the brink of my demise, I had an epiphany. I saw it… well, not really. Just knew it existed as the source of all that existed, while I was banished to the world of nonexistence."
Legris had no idea why he was explaining so much to his prey, but he thought he might as well.
He had eliminated Jared and his friends, and even if Neron were to arrive, there was nothing he could do to stop him.
"The moment I realized what the source of existence was, and that I was no longer within the bounds of it, I knew…"
He knew he had to gather all the Arcanas to be able to use [The World] and travel through Trees.
After he was able to gather the Arcanas in the Nether Tree, he was able to do the same in the Aether Tree, and finally obtained access to the ROOTs of both.
Now that he had reached this point, he could access Aether—who was still in her ROOT, and the Nether, who was now floating outside of existence.
Within ORIGIN itself.
Once both of them were his, the next step would be a cakewalk.
All preparations were complete.
"I will reach ORIGIN and gain my ultimate prize… [All Things]!"
Silence greeted this declaration of his, and Legris was perfectly fine with that.
He didn't expect anyone to understand his ambitions.
"What do you desire to do with it? With [All Things]." Aether's voice suddenly radiated.
Legris smiled as Aether gave him the most serious glare he had ever seen her make.
She knew full well what kind of power existed within ORIGIN.
ORIGIN was essentially the starting point of all existence—the Root of the ROOT.
[All Things] was the culmination of everything required to create and destroy everything that existed, or that would exist.
It contained all the powers, all the matter, all the possibilities… all of everything.n./.(-(--)(-(I))n
It wasn't just power; it was also knowledge.
Of all that existed, was existing, and would exist.
True infinite knowledge.
"[All Things] is not a means to an end for me. It is the end." Legris responded.
"What are you—?"
"Just watch from within me. Of course, you won't be able to, but… I don't care."
Legris placed his hand on Aether, and he began the absorption process.
"I've already come this far, after spending an eternity in that darkness…" Whispering to himself, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment.
Soon… very soon… he would have it all.
"And no one can stop me."
********
Once Legris was done with Aether, he closed his eyes for a moment and smiled in relief.
The process was longer than he thought, but it was worth it.
Aether had now been eliminated, and it remained the other one.
'Neron banished him outside the creation of his Nether Tree, which means he is in ORIGIN.'
Since Legris was currently on his way there, he felt it was sort of like killing two birds with one stone.
"Perfect! Let's go!"
He opened up a gate from the Aether ROOT, while using the coordinates of the Nether ROOT to cross reference.
They intersected at a particular point, which seemed to be where the longest Root strand was located.
'Both of them started off there…' Legris smiled, proceeding to delve into the world that awaited him.
'I've found ORIGIN.'
*
*
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We're in the endgame now.
How will Legris be stopped? How can he even lose?
Let's find out!
