The war wound down on its own.
The Nox population got smaller and smaller, until finally, under the hands of no man but a mere common soldier among the many within the ranks of the army, the last Nox fell.
Celebrations ran wild across the entire universe. For almost a month, Grand Heavens Boundary was enveloped in the joyous atmosphere of victory, and as the people celebrated, those in higher positions took care of the aftermath of the war to make sure they could bring everything to a proper conclusion.
However, all of them were in the dark about a fact that only one man knew.
'It's already too late. The universe will die no matter what we do.'
That was the discovery Damien made by looking at every potential future presented to him in the Void.
He created countless new potential futures as he tried to see if his interference could change the outcome, but he still found himself bound by fate.
He had yet to escape the shackles that deluded the Saint Emperor's mind.
It was an extremely unfortunate fate, but if there was nothing that could be done about it, he had to work to save the universe in another way.
His voyage began there.
He first met with the universe's highest authorities, including Luciel and Alucard, who held control over its worlds, and told them his plan.
Through this conversation, they also realized his identity, but now wasn't the time for that conversation.
Hearing it from him, they understood it was an absolute truth that couldn't be denied.
Because Damien Void was that kind of person.
So he gained the authority to act as he pleased.
They also agreed with his plan to save as many as possible, and though they'd have to leave behind their current home, in a sense, they weren't leaving it behind at all.
Alexander started moving from there.
He went to Hephaestus and tried to find any World Core or intact world remaining, binding the few tens that he found and sending them into the Sanctuary.
Following that, he visited the Infernal Realm and did the same. There were only around 60,000 worlds left there, but it that was fine. Damien was glad at least that many survived.
The Human Domain was visited third.
A large portion of Grand Heavens Boundary's common populace was sent to the Sanctuary when he took the remaining worlds there in, and finally…
'This is the only part that'll be a bit troublesome.'
The Divine Realm didn't just contain the majority of the common populace, but also all of the universe's experts.
He knew Luciel and the rest had already worked to convince those people when he was busy with the other Sectors, but he was still a bit hesitant.
Nevertheless, he did what he needed to do.
Starting from the Dawn World he landed on when he first entered the Divine Realm, to Beast Emperor Star which was now residing on the border, all the way to Sky Castle Luxurion and Death Emperor Star which were far deeper into the realm, he took everything into the Sanctuary.
He met many people as Alexander during these travels, but he mostly avoided questions about his identity.
Even those who didn't know would come to know soon enough anyway.
But…
When he took Luxurion, he met the people he wanted to see most in this world.
Rose, Ruyue, and Elena were waiting there for him.
Having been filled in on what was happening by Luciel, they easily understood his identity.
They stood there when he appeared as if they'd been waiting for him.
And as he stood frozen…
Rose smiled.
"We'll talk later."
That was all she said.
The three of them used their rings to reach the Sanctuary on their own, leaving him stunned by himself.
'Hahaha…'
There was no rage in Rose's voice. Rather, it was an endearing tone he had been waiting to hear ever since the last time he saw them.
However, that scared him even more.
Because his heart skipped a beat.
Really, no matter how old he got, he couldn't control his emotions when it came to them.
He almost wanted to leave the Void right then and there and enter the Sanctuary to embrace them, but he had to finish his work first.
It was a strange feeling like he'd eaten far too much sugar. His heart was beating like a supercar engine as it tried to race out of his chest.
And determination to finish everything else as fast as possible filled his body.
The people of Grand Heavens Boundary didn't quite understand why they were being transported or where they were going, but they didn't have much of a choice but to listen.
It was a bit strange doing all of this without having to give 85 pages of justification first, but Damien didn't mind it at all.
Rather, this level of trust and power made his life far easier.
And when the entirety of Grand Heavens Boundary was taken into the Sanctuary…
Damien went to the Abyss.
There was only one stop left. One place he had to visit before he left this lower universe behind altogether.
But perhaps this was the most important visit of them all.
***
He went to the Abyss.
Even this place was empty.
Yong An and the rest were in the Sanctuary, and the fractured Universal Cores remaining here had all been used to boost the Sanctuary's Universal Core.
So why did Damien come here?
To this dull and desolate place that represented the encroaching darkness swallowing the light, what was there to do?
In fact, even Damien didn't know.
He came here without a plan, because his current strength still wasn't enough for him to easily find the person he wanted to meet.
Still, he came because he knew that person would come to him.
And he was right.
After wandering for just a short period, it appeared before him.
A rickety shack that looked like the most insignificant dwelling in the world, and the old man who quietly sat on its porch.
Damien walked up and sat on the chair that was waiting for him there as if it was natural.
"This is my newest creation. I haven't had much time, but I think this one is quite an improvement when compared to the rest. Let me introduce you to No. 111: The Sorrows of Farewell."
It didn't even feel like he was in Alexander's body anymore. As he took the spirit wine out and poured two glasses for himself and the old man, he felt his hands shaking slightly.
But he didn't make it known.
"You have grown much since the last time we met," the old man said with a smile as he took a sip of the wine.
"...and this, this is quite spectacular."
He closed his eyes and savored the taste.
"Did you have anything to ask?"
"No," Damien shook his head, "I just wanted to visit."
"I see…it seems you have learned something troublesome."
"Troublesome is a bit harsh."
The old man smiled.
"You are right. I cannot say I am not pleased with your attitude."
"However, there is nothing to be done."
"..."
Damien sighed.
"Yeah, I realized that too, and that's all the more reason to visit."
He didn't know what to say, and it didn't look like the old man had anything to say either.
But he still wanted to be here.
The two of them enjoyed their spirit wine together, and without anything else to do, Damien told the old man about his journey since the last time they met.
After all, while the old man knew about most of it, even he couldn't see the more recent events.
He told the story knowing it meant nothing, and the old man listened with a soft smile as if he were listening to his grandson talk about his dreams.
The atmosphere around them was a bit odd, filled with both positive and negative feelings.
Because they both knew.
No matter how causally they treated it, this would be their last conversation.
The old man was dying.
And Damien…had no choice but to accept it.
