The Void.
Damien knew it as the origin of everything, he knew that he could reach it by continuing on his path of conquering the foundational laws, but he still didn't have a true, inscrutable definition of the concept.
It was similar to his situation with Universal Law, but far vaguer, to the point where he didn't believe he'd ever be able to perfectly describe its existence.
[We call the Void our origin, but it is not our direct Ancestor. Our mother is another entity entirely.]
The 2nd Primal Sovereign's first words already shook Damien's perception.
When this creature said "our," he wasn't merely referring to Space Beasts or even Primal Sovereigns, but all of his siblings, including the universe itself!
A new form of existence was forced into Damien's worldview, separating him further from the Void.
[We came second, yet, we are all creations of the Void the same, regardless of our nature.]
Damien's eyes sharpened. The way he worded that sentence…
'It's a concept, not an entity.'
Damien's mind whirled from these brief two sentences. He rapidly sifted through his memories and comprehensions to find the hidden piece of the puzzle.
'There's no way I haven't come in contact with it yet. At this point, I've approached almost every primordial existence. Somewhere, somehow, I've learned of these concepts. I just have to find them and define them.'
What could precede the universe?
The Void gave birth to "something else" before the universe came to be.
Which meant the entity that was born needed to exist before the universe.
'I thought my path would lead me to the Void, but I was wrong. I made a crucial mistake from the start.'
His current path led him not to the final goal, but to the gate he needed to open to reach it.
The 5 elements.
Life and Death.
Space and Time.
Creation and Destruction.
'And rumored to stand above them, Nihility.'
The concept that represented the nothingness before the universe's birth, such was the identity of the concept just barely mentioned to him during his very first class change.
Damien, to this day, viewed it as a synonym for the Void, nothing more than an alternate name.
'But there was something that existed before the universe, yet was lesser than the Void.'
The nothingness itself was birthed along with the cycle as a defined entity. Even though the existence of absolute nothingness was impossible to imagine, it had somehow been defined.
'Wait…the existence of nothingness…isn't that…'
Right, every force had an equal and opposite. The law of Yin and Yang, the concept of duality, suggested that even Nihility couldn't be defined without the presence of "existence."
The Primal Sovereign smiled.
[Do not think further, child. Follow your heart until the road no longer exists before you, and then…]
"Use the experience I gained along the way to carve my own path."
[As all things go, this must not be rushed.]
Damien nodded in agreement.
'The Primal Sovereign can be considered a grandson of the Void, and since I'm its chosen, it isn't wrong to consider him an uncle of sorts. With his status and research on Heavenly Law, his decision to intervene here says something.'
Some things were meant to be understood with one's senses rather than their thoughts, and forming a prior perception of them might instead negatively impact one's comprehension.
Damien wasn't willing to risk such a mistake, especially not on his main path.
Huu…
He deeply exhaled and gathered his thoughts.
'I thought I was getting further away, but instead, I feel closer than ever to that hidden truth. Still, to think information like that showed up so early…'
Damien suddenly became curious about the system.
It used to hold such importance, but he rarely utilized or even saw traces of it recently.
'Is it like this for everyone, or have I just been moving further and further from its control?'
The system relied on the Heavenly Law. The growth path it made available was constricted within the universe's standards.
Yet, for a while now…
…Damien had not been acting within the bounds of what the universe would allow.
'It's surprising that I don't get hit by Heavenly Retribution often in Grand Heavens Boundary. The sub-universe based on its laws punished me when I tested its limits, but every time I abuse the Void outside is directly provoking the Universal Law and it's never confronted me...'
His expression turned solemn. The question had to be asked.
"Is it a result of my power, or did the universe become weak to the point where it can't do anything even while knowing its rules are being broken?"
The Primal Sovereign, who had been calmly enjoying Damien's treatment as the man submerged himself in thought, raised his head curiously.
[Hm? Did you not wish to learn about the Void?]
"What I gained before was more than enough."
[...haha, I understand.]
His positive expression gradually vanished.
[Do you truly wish to know?]
"I have to."
[...]
The Sovereign sighed in acceptance.
[It is as you said. The universe of today has shriveled to the point where your actions cannot be interfered with. Despite your weakness, the mere presence of the Void is enough to break the shackles of Universal Law.]
"How did it become like this? How expansive was it at the start?"
[The cause can be described as a natural decay exacerbated by external forces.]
"How fast would the decay have been without them?"
[Hardly noticeable. Even millions of years are nothing to the lifespan of a universe.]
"Were there different forces or just the one I know?"
[You are already aware of the answer.]
"I really don't like that answer."
[However, it is reality.]
"Haa…"
Damien sighed and sat down, manipulating his mana to prevent blood from falling from the wound and causing more Impulse Waves.
Throughout the entire history of the universe, the Nox had been present to oppose it.
Damien almost laughed at the absurdity of it all.
Just what kind of monstrous race were they?
And just what could possibly drive them to dismantle and destroy the universe from the beginning of time?
[Your second question is something even I cannot describe. If you wish to understand more about this truth and the questions rising in your heart, you must explore the Abyss.]
Damien's face remained firm and unchanging, yet something in his heart hardened.
A Nox race targeting Grand Heavens Boundary was not out of Damien's plans. Even a Nox race that targeted a larger universe that became Grand Heavens Boundary was something he accounted for.
But the Primal Sovereign told of a universe whose size even a being born alongside it could not explain, the truths of which lay in a place he'd long realized his connection with.
He could no longer put it off.
He needed to explore the Abyss.
It couldn't be done before the ceasefire ended, but he couldn't waste any time after his rematch with Bai Yumo to set out.
'This year…might be the last year of freedom I'll have for a very long time.'
He mentally prepared himself and prepared the final confirmation he needed.
"This universe…"
The hope remaining in his heart…
"...is it going to die?"
…was that spark just a delusion?
