"If the entire universe turned against you, including those you hold dear in your heart, would you still move with the same determination to save it?"
"…"
Damien closed his eyes and thought over the question rather than answering instantly as he'd done before.
He'd never given any thought to a hypothetical where Rose, Ruyue, and all of his closest people betrayed him since he knew it was simply impossible.
However, now that the question was set in front of him as a hypothetical, he finally gave it the time of day.
In reality, this question went far deeper than morality.
This question could define one's sense of self, opening pathways to explore several other facets of one's ego.
Damien had three hearts outside of his body.
The first was Earth, his roots, his origin. Even if Damien didn't have any particular feelings for Earth, he knew how important the world was to him as a Celestial.
The second was Apeiron, the location where he experienced rebirth. The Damien Void who existed on Apeiron was a completely different being from the one who came from Earth. That was a Damien Void qualified to grow stronger.
And finally, the Cloud Plane, Damien's third external heart. The Cloud Plane was the world that allowed Damien to overcome his past and look towards his future, shedding his mental instability entirely.
Each of these worlds held great meaning in Damien's heart, and coincidentally enough, each was the birth world of one of his wives.
For everyone and everything he knew and loved to turn against him, these worlds would also do the same.
The people residing on their surfaces would follow their will, becoming his eternal enemies.
Even if he returned to his roots, he'd only be met with jeers.
No matter where he went, he'd either be shunned or attacked.
There was no such thing as safety, no such thing as solace…
At least, not within Grand Heavens Boundary.
Damien didn't doubt that, if he truly decided to join them, the Nox would accept him. They valued power over quite literally everything, and with their strange connection to the Void, they'd obviously want Damien on their side.
However, would the betrayal of the universe push Damien to the enemy side?
He tried to picture himself in that situation, where everyone he grew to love turned their backs on him one by one, betraying him and forcing him into a corner.
'It's painful.'
The first few times, it felt like his heart was being stabbed when he was met with their indifference.
But as time went on, his heart became void. His emotions became numb as he only expected betrayal and never longed for love.
He became colder, more indifferent, and less inclined to aid those in danger when he saw them.
Rather, he moved completely independently.
But…would he abandon the universe?
'No.'
It was simple to realize once he put the situation into perspective.
Because even if everyone else betrayed him, the universe never would.
It was an eternal ally with no way to voice its support.
It was his true roots, and the "flow" to which he'd been connected for several years.
Even if everyone in the universe died, as long as he saved its existence, its roots, it would still be able to regrow and rebirth itself.
So what did it matter if everyone betrayed him?
If they ever betrayed his expectations of them to such an extent, they simply weren't worth his emotions.
They weren't worthy of being the cause of his abandonment.
Damien looked up at the Giant Leader with flames in his eyes and gave his answer with utmost confidence.
"Yes. I would still save the universe even if everyone inside had to die first."
"Very well!" The Giant Leader exclaimed. "Since you have given the answers buried in your heart without a hint of intention to lie, we will return your sincerity with an absolutely truthful verdict!"
Boom!
The Giant Leader lightly tapped his foot on the ground, causing a massive wall of limestone to raise from the earth and separate Damien from the Giant Elders.
"They're discussing whether or not they should help you now. Regardless of their answer, know that you have passed the trials splendidly." Granny Liu walked up to Damien and said.
"Hm? Granny Liu, you're still here? You didn't tell me you were a big shot!" Damien responded in surprise.
"Tch, what do you know? This old lady once sat in that central seat, you know."
"Ehh?"
Damien's eyes widened in shock. There was no way this little old lady was trying to tell him that she was the previous leader of the Cloud Giant Race, right?
"Granny, quit kidding with me. If you're really some big person, how do you think the council will vote?"
Granny Liu glanced at the limestone barrier with furrowed brows.
"Those brats…well, it doesn't matter what they say. Either way, your request will be granted."
"Granted?"
"Granted."
Damien's eyes widened further. Why was Granny Liu so certain of the outcome?
At this time, Damien failed to realize that he'd left one important fact out of consideration.
The Cloud Giants were expelled to the Wild Continent because their ancestors supported the Nox. Even though they were direct descendants of the Titan bloodline, even they didn't have knowledge of why their ancestors chose betrayal.
All they knew was that they'd been punished for an eternity for sins they didn't commit.
There were many parties at fault for this. The Titans themselves, the forces that decided to exterminate them, and the Nox were all key reasons for the race's tragic fate.
Of them, the Titans and ancient experts were dead and gone. If the legacies of these experts survived, they existed in the outside world that the Cloud Giants couldn't access.
Now, intelligent life had returned to the Wild Continent in the form of outside adventurers, and half of those who came were Nox.
Of the three groups that the Cloud Giants resented, there was only one that they could currently act against.
And…what if their contributions somehow allowed them to exit this forsaken land?
Regardless, there were endless benefits for the Cloud Giants if they attacked the Nox.
There was no reason for them to refuse.
Merely…
Generations without leaving the turtle shell known as the Void Corridor had turned these once ferocious beings into great cowards.
Currently, the Giant Leader was facing a split opinion.
A majority of the elders wanted to remain in inaction. They didn't want to aggravate a situation they had no part in, as they had safety and security in their current state.
However, was this safety and security really worth it?
Was it not just a facade?
Even if they were a smaller number, there were still several elders who firmly believed that now was the time for action.
They had just cause in accepting the request of someone who aced their trials, they had a motive in slaughtering Nox, and they had more than enough power to spare.
Damien's trial answers weren't brought up in the conversation one time.
Before he even started answering, he'd passed the trial in many of these elders' eyes, including those who currently opposed his request.
His answers only led them to respect him and ponder his skewed yet curious mentality.
It was a personal curiosity that these elders didn't enter into their discussion.
Perhaps it was for this reason why the opinions were currently so split.
At this point, the weight of responsibility fell on the Giant Leader's shoulders.
His decision would be the Cloud Giants' decision.
So…would he succumb to pressure, or would he rise to the challenge?
Even the Giant Leader himself didn't know which route he'd choose.
