Bro, I'm not an Undead!-Chapter 1644: The Acceleration Incident (5)

Somewhere in the Northern Territories of Reality...

<And it ends almost as quickly as it began.> said JOISEN ANTERRAS, looking up.

<And so, it does. A double-edged sword if I’ve ever seen one. Spells trouble for us.> said a second JOISEN ANTERRAS. <The mission doesn’t change, though. As a matter of fact, I’m even more thrilled to face them now. A couple of them ought to have taken the chance to comprehend Litte.>

The first JOISEN grunted. <Strange that you would find that amusing. I can sense the excitement in the air, can’t you? Perhaps you wouldn’t. Your Broader Existence is supposed to be weaker than mine, right? In any case, millions of Deities across this Reality are invigorated. They took a chance and earned immensely from it. Can’t imagine those Aspire to Divine high-brass punks would miss the chance to get stronger, especially if they are expecting me.>

<Two of you. Two of me, actually> said the second JOISEN. <They won’t see it coming. I have a feeling that surprise trumps what little they got from the spark of Litte just now. The one hundred and seventeenth Breaking Chasm will fall into our hands comfortably.>

JOISEN ANTERRAS was the Primeval Deity who had signed a Limited Contract with Skullius for his Exotic Parlous Nature, Second Divine Sinew. The Exotic Parlous Nature allowed the user to create a living copy of a target down to the Broader Existence, even if there were disparities in strength.

(A/N: Refer to Ch.1291.)

Earlier, JOISEN ANTERRAS had made use of his contract and forged a clone of himself. Not much time had passed where he was compared to Aigas. His clone was still rather fresh, but altogether ready for the siege JOISEN had in mind against his enemies.

<How do you think AKHASHA feels about all of this? A lot of his mechanisms have been thrown into disarray.>

<Since when do I concern myself with his affairs?> said the first JOISEN, annoyed.

***

COLMUUN was eagerly waiting for Skullius’ (Future Skullius’) arrival.

What had just happened, the acceleration of all things had left him stricken with passion.

The burst of Litte just now – hilariously connected to the original Skullius and his dance with fate – had triggered a Reality-wide snag in AKHASHA’s Contracts. A part of COLMUUN desired to launch an attack against the bastard immediately, but he stifled the urge. There was no need to be hasty. No, no. It was more prudent to wait.

COLMUUN leaned back and chuckled.

<Would you look at that? Fundamental Barter is suddenly popular.> he said.

He could feel it. All the beings across Reality utilizing his Fundamental Barter – at least those with Divine capabilities – had been inspired by the burst of Litte just now in a variety of ways. They thought of different ways to better themselves and their powers, but instead of innovating through the Common Reality Leagues, they instead turned to Fundamental Barter to bring their ideas to life before the inspiration vanished from their beings.

Hundreds of thousands applied Higher Fundamental Barter and tens of millions employed regular Fundamental Barter.

<There’s even a few spectacular mortals sprinkled in. Humorous, indeed. When mortals employ Fundamental Barter, they never can quite define the abilities they obtain – unless they are Bearers. Even the Voice of Worlds can’t give a designation to the powers they awaken. Are they techniques? Are they obtuse versions of Andori? Even I can’t say for sure.> COLMUUN chortled. <But that’s about to change.>

The Primeval Deity couldn’t help but think of that one individual he’d blessed with an additional application of Fundamental Barter; a certain strong-willed woman with a lethal sword.

For some reason, he found himself having high hopes for the future.

<Anomalies are the best.>

***

Near the Eastern border of Reality...

<You might find this funny, but it’s serious!> GREY VONSE was saying. <Litte’s main attribute is acceleration. It touches upon other facets of the |Greater Cosmic Law|. AKHASHA’s Contracts with all Divine beings have been messed up because Conste spiraled out of control. Many fresh Divines even managed to escape having to Contract with him before beginning their Ascension. That cannot be tolerated! Have you any idea what kind of chaos that would cause, TITEMIUS?>

TITEMIUS burst out laughing. <If it’s so serious, how come AKHASHA himself has said nothing about it?> He turned to the figure next to GREY VONSE.

Indeed, the three Primeval Deities were near the very edge of Reality, where a stalwart sealing formation was placed. TITEMIUS was behind the throbbing bars made from a certain ore within this formation, talking to GREY VONSE and the man everyone knew to be the first to ever become a Deity. AKHASHA.

To TITEMIUS’ question, AKHASHA merely shrugged and said nothing. His mind was elsewhere.

<Fine.> GREY VONSE said, determined to sound exceptionally persuasive and strong-willed in front of AKHASHA. <You wouldn’t care for such matters, would you, TITEMIUS? You can’t be bothered with order between sentient beings. But what about the natural order in the fabric of Reality. You felt it too, right? The Litte accelerated the expansion of Reality too. In a short span, our Reality is now 4,5 times larger. That is a problem.>

TITEMIUS’ mirth slithered away. He sighed, suddenly solemn. <Fair. That is genuinely concerning. Even I wouldn’t be safe from the consequences.>

Only the Primeval Deities and the Parallels – those who could comprehend Eklhesh (space and distance) – knew that one hidden fact about this Reality: that it was constantly expanding, even if by an insignificant amount every thousand Consternals or so.

It was a natural thing. But just now, because of the burst of Litte – which Reality hadn’t tasted in a very long time – some form of balance was shattered. The exact consequences of this were unknown, but they were definite.

GREY VONSE scowled. <If you acknowledge it, then help us. How long is it going to take for you to stick to your own and help us? Why are you still loyal to Void, to Serenity? They couldn’t care less about you now. They both used you, didn’t they? What kind of a fool are you to not realize it after all these Consternals? Tell us their secrets. Get back at them. Tell us how to save this Reality and we’ll set you free.>

TITEMIUS considered GREY VONSE and then AKHASHA. He scoffed at the latter. The bastard’s eyes were finally on him again.

<You sound awfully desperate. I wish you’d come to me with this same proposal, say, four trillion Consternals ago, when everything was just dandy.>

GREY VONSE simmered like a tea kettle. Before she could call TITEMIUS a miserable snake, however...

<<That UNLIMITED CONTRACT you signed with the Null Life Bearer has you swimming in hope, doesn’t it? Everyone seemed so interested in the Parlous Nature that little thing created. I was surprised when even you cast your net to him.>>

AKHASHA’s voice lacked passion, always monotone, but it was sharper than any other in Reality. Funny enough, he always knew what to say to stir emotion in others despite sounding so dry.

TITEMIUS grinned. <Maximum Jaqquezjaqqz, yes. I was surprised when it drew more of the Absolute Sun’s Litte to me. Imagine that. I never did manage to comprehend Litte long ago. But now it’s in my hands too.>

AKHASHA gave a slow nod. <<Yet another secret Void kept from you. She was already familiar with Litte by the time she ’befriended’ you, right? I wonder, did she ever tell you that she planned to hide away the Absolute Sun too, or was that another secret?>>

<What do you care? None of that helps your cause.> said TITEMIUS.

<<Of course. All that matters is that your loyalty and faith in the Parallels has finally been rewarded. And you expect more merit. Hmm. Deplorable.>>

<Call it whatever you want.> said TITEMIUS. <You just don’t want to admit it yourself. Your unshakeable pedestal is starting to crumble. Void, Emmae and Serenity can’t compete with you because of their restrictions, but their Bearers can. And now, for the first time since we all ascended, everything is being thrown into chaos again. Your Contracts have been shaken. Serenity’s vision is coming to pass. The Wanderer’s Will is asserting its dominance once again. I am on the right side of the future. Sooner or later... Serenity and Void will see that.>

AKHASHA gave another slow nod. His face was as stiff as stone, hard to read. He said nothing.

That ticked TITEMIUS off.

<You wasted your time coming here. You know, right? You control Conste. You see the future. Serenity’s Bearer is coming for you, allied with COLMUUN and the others. If I were you, I would worry about how I’m going to save my skin. You can’t salvage this, AKHASHA. I don’t have the answers to mending Reality now either.>

AKHASHA nodded yet again. He acknowledged TITEMIUS’ sentiments and struck the bars to the prison with a finger.

<<You value this particular Bearer very much, as does COLMUUN. I would too, I suppose. I heard COLMUUN even warned the others against going anywhere near him.>> he said. <<Fascinating. And here I thought he was wise.>>

TITEMIUS frowned. He hated how AKHASHA seemed unbothered by everything else he’d said.

<<You’re under the wrong impression, though. Both of you. I didn’t come here to ask for your help.>>

GREY VONSE turned to AKHASHA, surprised. <What?>

AKHASHA wore what counted for a smile on his face – a strange expression that no humanoid could make.

<<Conste is my forte, for sure. The shuttle of Litte from moments ago only helped accelerate how much of it I can utilize. I have all the solutions, all in the unlikeliest of places. I only came here to confirm something that even the |Greater Cosmic Law| wasn’t certain about – that little Bearer. Serenity and Emmae are the only ones capable of manufacturing entities that even the Cosmic Law can’t touch.>> He sniffed with amusement.

TITEMIUS scowled. <What are you talking about?>

<<Wouldn’t you like to know?>> said AKHASHA. <<You’ve chosen a side. Stick with it. You were right, after all. Everything is unraveling, but it’s all to re-establish the old.>>