Darkness.
It covered everywhere, even beyond the world.
The Martial Blade God could see all of it as he ascended past the bounds of his own planet and reached the outer expanse that hosted it. His world, as he had come to realize, was one of many. And this reality was also one of many.
His body could feel the resistance of the Nether that he was gripping as they both left the world behind. He ascended higher and higher—as high as he could.
Just as he had done his whole life!
There really wasn't any pinnacle—there never was. The culmination of worlds was so infinite that this power he had would be somewhat insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Yet, he was so happy.
So fulfilled.
'I was selfish until the very end…' The Martial Blade God thought to himself.
A smile formed on his face when he made this realization.
He remembered how the deaths of so many people were caused because of him, and how the extinction of his own world was nearly brought about because of his selfishness. Everything was meant to weigh him down, but he accepted them all with a smile.
Even though he knew he was a horrible human being… the Martial Blade God could not help but smile.
He still did not care for a name beyond his title, and he did not care for an identity beyond Martial Arts. However, in his final moments, he remembered Edward, and the ambition the young boy had.
It was so different from his philosophy.
'I can't see the future beyond the span of my life, Edward… however…' The Martial Blade God's smile grew wider and wider.
'... You must fulfil your dreams!'
Ascending even farther from his native world, the Martial Blade God's body began to have cracks. Energy cracks which indicated that something within him was about to explode. It was power beyond power.
It was pure, unbridled energy.
'Even now, I can't help but wonder how powerful this will be… and if you'll survive it.' The Martial Blade God looked at the stunned Nether.
It was just the both of them, in this infinite darkness that stretched for miles upon miles—and even further beyond.
He could see them, though—the lights that existed beyond the darkness. He could see the sun, the stars… he could see hope within this darkness.
So, why couldn't he be one too?
'My final act is also that of selfishness…' The Martial Blade God's body was already breaking apart, and his own body was beginning to consume him.
This was the end.
'I have no regrets, though. I lived my life how I wanted, and I will die exactly how I want to.' The Martial Blade God doubted that he'd become a Bond Soul based on the required criteria.
Not only did he no longer have any regrets in the mortal world, but there wouldn't even be a soul after he was done. He was going to use up everything—everything to completely wipe out the Nether.
'Aries, do me a favour.'
~Yeah, I know. I understand…~His Familiar responded through his thoughts, a tone so grave that it seemed like it was the one dying.
'This is farewell.' The Martial Blade God smiled.
~You never used me even once…~
Then came the silence. No one spoke or moved after the statement. It was simply like the world, and everyone in it stood still.
~You followed your desired path till the end. And now, you have no regrets. It is now undeniably true, Martial Blade God… that you are the STRONGEST!~
Hearing it at the end of his life wasn't so bad, after all.
'I am… the strongest!'
And then… the eruption began.
>BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<
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The surge of light was even much bigger than the world that the Martial Blade God emerged from. The explosion was more than powerful enough to wipe out every single being in the world if it was detonated there.
Yet, even in outer space, the blast was enough to cause the planet to tremble.
As for the denizens of said world, they were also shaking—both in fear… and excitement!
"H-he did it!"
"Martial Blade God, I always believed in youuuuu!!!"
"He saved everyone! Whew!"
"I can't believe my eyes!"
"Amazing!"
The man they spoke of was already dead, so he could not see the people who once stood against him now revere him as a hero—the only one who could stand against the Nether and win.
The darkness in the skies was dissipating, and the blackened waters were turning pure. With the Nether gone, it seemed that the overruling force of Aether was beginning to return. In no time, the world would return to normal.
Edward, Ciara, Lemi, Ana, Jane, and practically everyone else that dwelled in the floating fortified platform, however, could not celebrate for long. No matter how happy they were about the preservation of the world, they couldn't forget the ones who sacrificed themselves for the greater good.
They couldn't forget about Jared.
"This isn't over yet, everyone." A voice suddenly roused them from their slump, and they were forced to look in the direction of Aloe Vida—or as she'd introduced herself, Kazen.
"Ciel is still out there. She's not smiling, though. That's a sign that the Martial Blade God did his job well."
"Really? The Nether is gone? For good?" Edward jumped in excitement.
He simply couldn't help but take pride in what his ancestor did.
"No. The Nether isn't gone for good. He's not dead. He can't be killed." Kazen sighed, almost showing how exhausted she was.
"W-what do you mean?"
"The Nether is a being of pure anti-energy. It's like the antithesis of this world's Aether given form. Energy can't be created or destroyed, but just transformed from one state to the other. The same applies to a being who is of pure energy—or rather, the opposite."
Once Edward heard this, he stopped the celebration going on within him.
Instead, he focused on Kazen's grim face.
"This isn't over."
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