Chapter 735: A Ticket to Safety
"...But anyway, destroying the Universe isn’t off the table, huh?"
The way Arthur mentioned it so nonchalantly made Ranus wonder if he knew exactly what destroying a ’Universe’ entailed.
Meanwhile, Arthur was busy processing the information, trying to identify a common thread.
’We resolved a Nexus that altered the Universe’s fate, and destroying the Universe is on the table.
There’s also the limit on the familiar I asked for...’
Arthur rubbed his chin, forming a theory in his mind.
’The level of the wish is most likely proportional to the significance of our achievement. If Universe destruction is on the table, then the fate we avoided must have been something of that magnitude.
That would place it just above the level of the familiar’s limit...’
Following that train of thought, Arthur’s mind drifted to the others who had been involved in the Nexus Event.
’Would their wish limits be the same as mine? Or is it based on contribution level?
If it’s not contribution-based and everyone has the same limit... then that could be a problem.’
His concern stemmed from his understanding of the existences called ’Eternals’ and the scale of their power, which he believed was the highest among those involved in the Nexus Event, aside from Jamie.
In his view, while Evan, Alvey, Artemisia, McEnda, and Beatrix would recognize the value of this opportunity, they wouldn’t grasp its true scope.
Their lives, their triumphs and struggles, had all taken place within a single universe. Though they were exceptional individuals in their own right, their understanding of existence remained tethered to the universe they called home.
At the pinnacle of their understanding of Higher Existential power were Race Emperors, Monarch Realm Existences.
To them, these figures likely represented the highest peaks, and even if meeting Ranus allowed them to understand that existences more powerful than Monarchs existed, conceiving that level of power without knowledge of the greater Cosmos would be difficult.
Evan might have some insight due to his previous incarnation, but Arthur wasn’t certain since he had no idea what kind of life that incarnation had lived.
’I really don’t want them making wishes that are the equivalent of asking for a handful of gold while standing atop a mountain of treasure.’
"Can I talk to the others? Discuss with them for a bit?"
[No, you cannot.]
Ranus knew exactly what Arthur was thinking and why he wanted to meet the others. And because he knew, he denied the request.
Sectioning them off in different Mini-Realities ensured no collaboration, no exchange of ideas—just pure, unfiltered desires drawn from their own experiences and limited perspectives.
[Didn’t I say so earlier—It’s far more fun to watch you try to stay within limits you don’t even know exist.]
"...you old and powerful beings really can really be a pain sometimes. You also have some screws loose sometimes."
Arthur muttered under his breath, fully aware Ranus would hear him. And just as expected, Ranus immediately commented.
[Kid, did you just indirectly call me crazy?]
"It wasn’t indirectly."
Arthur’s blunt response made Ranus blink at him silently before shaking his head with a sigh.
[I wonder where you and Lucifer got your Audacity from...]
"Dunno about Lucifer, but I got mine from the black market. Black Friday discount."
[Pfft!! Refer me to your dealer! I need to see what he’s selling...]
Ranus burst into laughter at Arthur’s response, and the boy, laughing along, shot back.
"Don’t worry, I’ll write you a recommendation letter."
He laughed as he spoke, but just as quickly, his expression changed. The light-heartedness disappeared, replaced by something serious as he declared.
"I’ve made my final decision."
[Final Decision, you say?]
"Yeah."
[Then let’s have it.]
Ranus set his cards down, then froze everyone else in the casino before leaning forward and speaking.
[I’m listening.]
The moment Ranus said that, Arthur spoke internally to Lostvayne.
’Lostvayne, I’m going to need your help for this.’
[Exactly where do you need my help?]
Arthur quickly explained his plan, outlining his intentions, while Lostvayne listened attentively.
’I’m going to borrow a bit of your Destruction power to try something. From what Lucifer told me about this guy’s personality, if I want him to seriously consider my wish— especially if it’s beyond what I estimate the limit to be—then I need to do something that will definitely intrigue and entertain him.’
Arthur had already been given a brief rundown of the names and personalities of the leaders of the three Major Cosmic Powers.
His initial reaction to being dragged here by Ranus, as well as the way he spoke to him, had been a deliberate test to confirm the authenticity of Lucifer’s information.
That was why he continued speaking to Ranus the way he did—because he knew that his attitude was ’entertaining’ to him.
Right now, he wanted to do something that would impress Ranus enough to make him seriously consider granting his wish.
To achieve this, Arthur summoned Lostvayne and placed the sword on the table, prompting Ranus to raise an eyebrow. Then, Arthur channelled a bit of Lostvayne’s cosmic destruction energy to stimulate a power within his soul.
When it reacted, Arthur seized control of the emitted energy and channelled it up his palm, forming an orb surrounded by a crimson mist.
Ranus raised an eyebrow again, this time in mild surprise. He hadn’t expected this much.
’Aspect Manifestation. Even if it’s just a small fraction and he’s borrowing the Sword’s Authority, it’s still absurd given that he only obtained the Aspect less than a day ago.’
The man was already impressed, but Arthur wasn’t done just yet.
Mirroring the sensation from the red orb, he conjured another one in his palm, this time with a blue colour scheme. He placed both orbs on the table while keeping his right palm atop Lostvayne, maintaining his connection to the sword’s power.
Then, he spoke.
"As you can see, I possess three ticking time bombs that the other Eternals—besides yourself, who sees all of this as entertainment—would not appreciate and could potentially kill me over.
Because of that, my wish is simple. I want a favour."
Arthur paused briefly before continuing.
"If I ever find myself attacked or my life is threatened by another Eternal, an Aggressor, or any existence of comparable strength, I want you to intervene on my behalf and protect me.
Just once."
When he said this, Ranus’ amused smile slowly faded, and despite noticing this, Arthur continued.
"There would be a few conditions. For example, it would only apply if I’m not the one who instigated the conflict.
But aside from that, I simply want your protection."
Ranus drummed his fingers on the table when Arthur finished speaking, letting the silence stretch for over a minute before finally responding.
[That’s very pricey.]
"I know it is."
Arthur was well aware, and he had contingencies prepared in case his original request was denied. In fact, this wasn’t even his true goal.
"You can think of it as an investment in a Candidate with great potential. Both for the Candidate Selection and your personal entertainment."
His confidence in calling himself a Candidate with "great potential" came from his ability to partially manifest his newly acquired Aspects. After the display he had just put on, he knew Ranus couldn’t argue against that statement.
However.
[No. Your achievement is not worth that much.]
"..."
Arthur pressed his lips together, drumming his fingers on the table as if deep in thought—or at least, that’s how it appeared.
’Well, it was expected that he’d reject it. In that case, let’s move on to the next stage.’
"Protecting me from a life-threatening danger is feasible, right?"
[Indeed. But the level of ’danger’ I would agree to has a limit.]
Ranus responded exactly as Arthur anticipated, prompting him to ask.
"The level, huh? Then how many Existence Realms are there between the current me and you?"
Arthur really didn’t want to know this information. He’d been deliberately avoiding information about Existence Realms beyond the Monarch Realm as much as he could, but now, he had no choice but to ask.
[Between us? 15.]
"...that’s a much higher number than I expected."
It truly was. Arthur sighed, refusing to let the daunting path ahead discourage him, reminding himself that he was only 17 and had already accomplished more than some people five times his age.
"Then let’s take out the Realm right under the one all you Eternals, Aggressors, and Primordial Progenitors are in.
How about making the cap 14 Realms above me?"
[Still reaching too high, kid.]
"13."
[You really don’t get how this works, do you?]
"12."
[You wish.]
"11."
[Try again.]
"10."
[...]
Silence.
Exactly ten seconds passed, the casino unnervingly still.
Then, with a smirk, Ranus held up his hand. A shining crimson ticket appeared between his fingers, the number 10 glowing on its surface.
[An investment, it is.]
The paper spun slowly atop his fingers as he spoke.
[If you ever need to use it, rip it in half. That’ll let me know where you are.]
"...what if I’m in a situation where I can’t use my hands?"
[Use your mind then.]
Ranus responded with a shrug, and Arthur eyed the ticket before reaching out and taking it.
"So I take it you agree—that ONCE, you will intervene and protect me if I’m ever attacked or my life is threatened by an Existence up to 10 EXISTENCE REALMS higher than myself at the time."
[Affirmative.]
"Well, thanks in advance."
[You wouldn’t be ’welcome’ if you bore me.]
Arthur silently nodded at Ranus’ words, slipping the ticket into his Subspace. He closed it, then reopened it just to be sure it was still inside, before closing it finally.
"I suppose we’re done here, right?"
[True. Don’t you wanna play a game?]
Ranus asked while gesturing towards the cards on the table. He snapped his fingers as he spoke, and the casino around them unfroze.
The existences within it resumed their movements, the lively atmosphere returning in an instant, and Arthur glanced around before shaking his head.
"I think I need to sleep now. I’ve had a long day, after all."
Arthur didn’t act like it, but he was physically, mentally and spiritually exhausted. His body and soul needed Post-Exuviation rest, and he wasn’t about to neglect that.
Perhaps sensing this, Ranus didn’t try to keep him around. With another snap of his fingers, reality around Arthur began folding into darkness.
Just before everything faded, Ranus’ voice echoed.
[Don’t disappoint me.]
Then, the world went black.
