Chapter 1323 Curtains Fall
Finally, I had it all.
All I ever wanted—Magic—was in my grasp.
I could understand even the concepts that were difficult for me to grasp. I could comprehend the infinite possibilities of a single Spell.
Everything that was, is, and would be were all swirling within my being.
I had become one with it all.
"I now completely understand Magic in its entirety. More Magic will be developed too, and at a particular point, they'll surpass my current state."
As I said this to myself, I reflected on what Legris had said.
He wasn't wrong about the inevitable vanity of the entire pursuit of Magic.
In the end… it was always never enough.
"You were right, Lilith… Solomon… I finally understand all of it now."
The end was not usually the most satisfactory, but the road by which one got there.
Magic was the way it was because of it's never-ending complexities and potential.
The same could be said about life—or anything that had lasting meaning.
At the very end of the journey, what was next?
Nothing.
That was what Legris desired, but it was wrong. Magic, Life, Existence… so long as it continued, it would eventually spiral out of the very cage of infinity that shackled it.
"But this is fine…" I whispered to myself.
For the first time in forever, I felt content.
Truly content.
"I think it's finally time I explored something I wasn't able to properly do in my past life."
Now that I had reached the epitome of Magic, there was one thing that came next.
"…Love."
As I said those words, a strange sensation swirled within my very depths.
The time had finally come to hang my hat and focus on yet another journey that I could never exhaust.
And just realizing that… put a smile on my face.
******
"Let's begin."
I revived Karlia and Lewis, both of whom expressed shock to see that they were good as new—almost as if they had always existed, to begin with.
Within ORIGIN, the three of us stood face to face with each other, and I stared at them with a smile.
'I'm happy for you… 'Me'… it seems you and Karlia ended up in love, after all.'
Karlia deserved a version of me that would wholeheartedly choose and love her.
And as long as she was happy… I was glad.
~Well, this is kind of awkward…~
I heard Lewis' voice, or rather, his thoughts.
However, they weren't directed at me.
~I'm not sure he still remembers you, Karlia. He wiped his memory so the plan would work.~
I did my best to hide that I could hear all that went on in his mind. I was connected to everyone and everything, so it was only natural that I could perceive all thoughts.
~Really? What does he think I am, then?~
This time, it was Karlia that responded to him.
They both maintained a smile, but I found it amusing that they were having such thoughts.
~Maybe he thinks I fell in love with you in the Nether Root. Just play it cool…~
~Well, I guess that's fine too. I think it's better he doesn't remember me.~
She wasn't wrong.
Right now… this arrangement was the best.
"Where's Ursula?" Lewis finally spoke, bringing up a completely different topic from what he was just thinking about.
"I made sure she was able to escape to a safe place—my Great Sage's Archives." I responded naturally.
It was best to go with the flow.
"Someone there should be keeping her company, so there's no need to be overly concerned."
I hadn't forgotten about Lewis' Familiar, so I also forged it from the information within [All Things], returning the Kraken back into him.
"Thank you, Jared." Lewis smiled at me with a nod.
I returned the gesture with equal veracity.
"Thank you as well."
Without their efforts, the plan would not have flowed so seamlessly.
In a way, I owed it to them—no, not just them. Everyone who had actively participated in this grand conclusion.
It was all of them that ensured that the final showdown could be possible.
"Everyone is waiting for us in the ROOT." I explained, now changing the topic.
It was about time we left ORIGIN… and also for me to leave [All Things].
It was a power worth coveting, but not one that was required for my next objective.
Right now, I was Jared Leonard… seeker of Love.
"Ah, right!"
"We should leave now."
The two of them behaved so cutely that I was reminded of Maria.
I suddenly felt the need to tease her.
'When we return maybe… hehehe…'
Once the three of us decided to leave, I unbounded with [All Things].
I could feel the Infinite nature of my existence dissipate, and I no longer had access to everything in Existence.
'It's definitely for the best.'
During my time with [All Things], I began to appreciate the existence of the Unwritten Laws.
If they didn't exist, the chaos that would befall existence would be infinitely greater.
Such power that existed in this world had to be regulated.
"Let's go." I smiled, leaving the morphing orb of multifarious kinds of colors and properties.
"Yeah."
"Let's go."
The three of us left ORIGIN and ascended to the ROOT, where our friends and family awaited us.
'At long last… it's over.'
*******
"It's not over!"
A voice cackled from the depths of darkness.
The one who had the voice sat on a gnarled and crooked throne. It was as if the throne was designed to be uncomfortable for any who sat on it.
The accompanying darkness reflected the hollow state of the man, and he was the only one within the vast and empty dark expanse.
"Haa… it's not over! Not by a long shot!"
The voice was strained and filled with indescribable malice.
It belonged to the last of the one who had been defeated.
'Thankfully, I left a variant out of the [Amalgamation] process, so even though my perfect form is no more… I have this!'
The man on the throne was Legris.
Yes, he appeared crooked and worn-out, with his long brown hair covering most of his face. His emancipated form revealed his bones and dry skin, and he looked downright miserable.
His rage-filled face added to the sinister ugliness that he represented, and every word he uttered was coated in bitterness.
"I won't stop… not until I win!"
All he had to do was simple—restart his plan and take account for everything that happened to him thus far.
Mistakes were inevitable when it came to achieving great things, after all.
He had lost once before, and now he lost again.
So what?
As long as he was still alive, he could always try again.
Again and again and again and again and AGAIN!
Until he won!
"Knowing Jared, once he obtains [All Things], he'll abandon it. As long as it is not in his possession, I should be able to obtain it for myself!"
As Legris growled, he began to hear something.
It sounded faint, but he could make it out quickly. What echoed within the vast darkness that surrounded him… was a chuckle.
"Haha… I guess you know him more than I gave you credit for."
The voice that filled the world of Limbo instantly shook Legris.
He recognized it instantly.
"It seems my dear protege defeated you, and you won't just stay down like the loser you are…"
"Y-YOU…!" Legris' bloodshot eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets as they gazed upon the one that slowly approached his throne.
He had pure white hair, bright blue eyes, and a radiant form that oozed pure Magic.
"… NERON!"
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[A/N]
Now this is quite a development.
I guess we all know where our dear Neron has been all this while.
Time for a nice conclusion to their story.
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