Soul of Searing Steel

It was neither a mistaken perception or an illusion.

Joshua's senses definitely would not be wrong.

As a being who had battled against the Ultimate Sublimator Collective and defeated it, Joshua had gained significantly from that violent battle. Be it his deft application of various Extraordinary powers or probability projection towards the future, everything had been honed to complete perfection in the terrible conflict.

At present, the warrior now possessed every form of supernatural power including Psi, magic, lifeforce, elements, ether, Holy Light, and Shadow regardless of type—it would certainly be true that he frequently used Steel Strength, a variant of lifeforce, but that did not mean that he could only use that one ability. As he was now, Joshua was a master of all trades, and could confidently apply magic or indeed the Holy Light.

It was the same for divine power or Shadow. The warrior's perception and sensitivity in regards to those abilities would certainly rank in the top ten of the present Multiverse.

As the individual who had benefited the most in the battle against Demi Saint, Joshua had the chance to control the power of the Steel Python Star, the definitive data support of the Triple Curtain, the aid of all life and civilizations in the cosmos along with the Ultimate Sublimator Collective's information, given to him as its life ended…if the thing called experience indeed existed in the world, the battle on Stellaris was undoubtedly the greatest bag of experiences in the Multiverse, which was perhaps only next to the Evil God of Fertility.

It was impossible for anyone to not develop after having obtained such major training and support, with the shape of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective vaguely showing even in the case of tiny bacteria. Joshua certainly was no exception—he felt that he had strode a major step forward in the trail of Legends compared to the time prior to his arrival at Stellaris, and while he had yet to reach the threshold of the Demi Saint, he had at least reduced a significant portion of mystery.

Especially after he had spread the system of Emotion power which he had founded on Stellaris, the previously obscure path to ascension had become much clearer by collecting information similar to how the Wise Ones had established brand new Extraordinary powers, and he could even feel the gates to the Saints.

"I could ascend as a Demi Saint too."

Such was reality. What Joshua lacked at the moment was simply accumulation and time, since he could be 100% sure that, in the near future, he would be able to catch up to the level of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective and become the new Demi Saint.

"As for living beings such as the Silver Fairies and Zero One, they would be existences equivalent to the relationship between the Ultimate Sublimator Collective and the Ultimate Entities. However, Steel Strength would be the supernatural power that links them, while the Ultimate Sublimator Collective itself exclusively possessed that power that could imitate the Initial Flame, creating an absolute realm of its own…"

In truth, the Ultimate Sublimator Collective had essentially helped Joshua as much as the threat it had posed against him. Others aside, merely the brand-new path towards the Wise Ones was a profound gain in itself. Moreover, being a living world that was remarkably similar to the other, Joshua could naturally continue on the path of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective—provided that he could do something like materializing something similar to the Initial Flame in his own body, he would definitely be able to develop as a Demi Saint.

And yet, the memes and concepts created from such a path would be completely different from the path of Wise Ones, who spread a brand-new supernatural power and universal constants over the Multiverse…from that perspective alone, those were two completely different sets of systems from the Wise Ones.

Meanwhile, Joshua had remained dormant over a recent period time precisely to infer the related information, as well as to soak in knowledge and details that were useful for himself.

But now, even such thoughts had to be set aside for a moment.

Because that boundless power of Shadow from afar was surging upstream against the flow of the Great Mana Tide with an unimaginably profound momentum.

With a single split second of thought and even before he could hesitate, analyze, infer, or even consider, it had already arrived.

The Shadow had come.

***

Stellaris, along with the infinite Void around it, was covered in the darkest shadow within a single split second. With nary a sound, all of Stellaris was detached from the Void, sinking into another aberrative dimensional realm. All at once, Joshua realized that everything around him had disappeared without a trace, with only black shades that moved as his own radiance did left.

It was as if he had fallen to the deep sea, and was covered in a completely different layer of the Void.

"Weird. You are a not a part of that world…why would you stand before it, seemingly to protect it?"

The purest of Messages exuded from amidst the inexhaustive shadows, manifesting in the minds of others as voice, scent, presence, and everything else perceptible to humans. That sensation was akin to an interaction from every single possible angle: touch could see, vision could converse, with each supernatural power having different measures to be precepted and comprehended.

At the same time, the Message was also embodying a rather unusual tone, which could not at once be differentiated as either curiosity or indifference.

"You are showing no fear even against the boundless shadows that is gushing forth…even showing up here on your own volition."

Joshua looked around at the shadow encircling himself but did not answer, because it was not a question of 'why'. In Stellaris, the Triple Curtain had been severely disabled, the Steel Python Star would be slumbering for millennia, while the Grand Patriarch was with the Four Divine Rings where he would continue examining his self.

Meanwhile, every other living creature was not at all aware of the shadow's arrival.

Therefore, in this very moment, only he was able take action.

That was why he had come.

It was that simple.

The source of the Message did not continue pressing on its own question either. It appeared to be using a certain measure to study Joshua, before exclaiming in slight surprise. "Wait a minute. Why is there so much information tangled onto your body?"

"And what is this I am seeing? The Creation of Psi (Triple Curtain), the Legacy of the Arcane (The Knowers), with yourself being an agent of lifeforce, a living world which has transcended beyond Ancient Dragons—though there is no element or ether, the Holy Light (Sage's Legacy) and the Shadow (Demon King) are actually there too! You have actually been acknowledged by an Abyssal realm, even signing a pact and coming into the contact with the demons of the Shadow too?"

The Message was conveyed in a manner most complex, but it appeared to have directly decoded all information and records that Joshua's body carried, with the same portion of information being able to reveal twofold meanings that were virtually identical. Even so, it had not really affected their surprised tone by much, "You even have the scent of that Beast from a while ago—I see, so you and the guardian of this world were the ones who had destroyed it?"

The Source of the Message must have been passing by and moving along the trail that had been empty, only to slow down discreetly after encountering such a massive world and special lifeform beside the road. Its attention had truly been diverted this time, and it began to focus its gaze on Joshua.

"What kind of existence are you actually? To actually be able to involve such diverse information and causality… it is as if the Multiverse itself, along with all its Wise Ones, had their eyes upon you."

Then, even as the Message itself was being transmitted, an appearance which could be observed began to manifest in the shadow.

"That scent—" 

In that split second, Joshua frowned as he could smell that singular scent of the Abyss. It was something like no other even across the Multiverse, forming in long perished worlds…a scent that belonged to the ashes, and that which had died even before being born.

It was the scent of demons.

And just when Joshua realized what that scent actually had been, the shape in the shadow manifested…just like a silhouette.

How should he describe it? It was a very bizarre appearance, a curious play of shadow puppets if one had to put it to words: light, that had come from someplace unknown, shone upon a demon with curved long horns, a massive pair of wings, and a long thorny tail. That light was eternally unmoving, and yet the silhouette of the demon kept shifting, presenting itself in various forms.

Those abnormal forms were indiscernible transfigurations. The depth of the shadow itself was also ever shifting, as if the volatile shifting in itself embodied a certain mystery.

Two darker dots that appeared connected to a faraway place existed where the demon's eyes should have been. It was at once leveled at Joshua, just as it appeared to bypass him and leveled upon Stellaris as the Message transmitted. "I see. So, this is the homeworld of the Wise One of the Psi, the original form of the Infinite World Will…ah, I now see the original state of the Psybugs as well, a design of such benevolence…"

The rippling Message may not have referred to the common definition of 'Wise One', but Joshua knew that it was precisely what the demon silhouette was conveying: the Extraordinary individuals who were beyond the Demi Saint and could influence all of the Multiverse.

"You are the Wise One of the Shadow."

Joshua returned the gaze of the demon silhouette, muttering, "A real Wise One…such power…"

Joshua had initially thought that if the day that he could really meet the Sage—a real Wise One—would come, he might lose composure to excitement, curiosity, or even the bold desire to challenge him. And yet, now that he had really met one, Joshua found himself calm unlike ever before, as if it was all as it should have been.

It was right here.

Such an existence without any limit.

Such will and power that appeared capable of engulfing all of the Multiverse. Not even time and space held significance, because everything else were created and with boundaries.

It would have crossed Stellaris in a split second if it wanted to. The reason it would stop was perhaps because the world had been the homeland of the Wise One of Psi.

As well as the location of my presence.

But even such a being—the generations of Wise One—had clashed against the darkness behind the darkness in a conflict that extended beyond time until this day.

Understanding it all, Joshua took one step forward instead. He exchanged gazes with the demon silhouette who emanated the scent of the Abyss while appearing proud of it, before speaking with the clearest words, "Wise One, would you be heading over there as well?"

Elaboration was unnecessary. Anyone would know that 'there' referred to one place: the Fountainhead of the Great Mana Tide, the location of the Initial Flame. 

"That is the birthplace of everything, just as it is the endpoint of everything."

The Wise One of Shadow replied. "Successor, the day would come that you would assume this path too."

"But to what actual purpose? What has this befallen this Multiverse? I have questions in my head, Wise One, and I hope for an answer."

Fearless, even if the warrior did not know if the Wise One was good or evil, or indeed what sort of an existence itself had been despite its demonic and Abyssal scent, the warrior still pressed it, seeking answers to the doubts in his mind.

On the other hand, the Shadow was still spreading towards the endless distance, even though the Silhouette itself remained where it was. The ancient demon stared at the human before itself—it had once encountered beings that were unafraid of demonic and Abyssal presence, just as it had encountered beings who desired to help the demons and Abysses. It had once been graced by a single streak of Light, time after time and generation after generation, even something of which all life and existence had been graced with.

That was also the exact reason why that it existed as it was now.

And the being before its eyes now was an individual whom the Light had left behind, and would one day advance towards the endless distance in the same way.

That was why it spoke, just as a being who had now perished did in its ancient past to enlighten it.

"To answer that question, one must begin by explaining the most ancient history of the Multiverse."

The horned silhouette swayed as serene information streamed away. "Successor, do you know about the purpose of Extraordinary powers?"

"I do," Joshua answered with a firm voice, standing at the heart of inexhaustive shadows as his body emanated light that reflected the shadows surrounding himself. "It is a legacy, a continuation, and an existence. It is only because of the diverse Extraordinary powers that the present Multiverse and all life exist."

"Indeed, that is correct."

The Silhouette of the Message seemingly sighed. "The Wise Ones—that is what you called us. So, you would be aware that the existence of the Wise Ones would bring change to the Multiverse, because that is our legacy and continuation. That being said, are you aware that it is not only the Wise Ones' existence which is capable of bringing change, but also their deaths as well?"

"…"

Joshua's mouth was open as if he wanted to say something, but remained silent even if the words were at the tip of his tongue.

Because he was unsure of the fact, the warrior did not desire to convey his opinion for the very first time.

Be that as it may, the Shadow calmly answered him.

"Psionic energy is the earliest known Extraordinary ability in history. It is the power of the mind, and the change that its presence brought was the creation of Steel Pythons, the World Wills that existed within the millions of worlds across the Multiverse. Then, the Wise One of the Psi perished, in turn leading to the appearance of uncountable Psybugs—relics of the Wise Ones themselves. They would feed upon the vengeful wills and ill intent of all living things, especially the misery and despair of perished civilizations. Those massive Psybugs that you have seen along the way? They have grown to such a size after feeding on the vengefulness of the champions who had lost their lives on the Trail of Return."

"Without psionic power, the power of the spirit would never manifest, with life itself having difficulty in growing because their worlds lacked a World Will. The presence of the Psybugs had indeed curbed the Evil Gods and prevented them from spreading far and wide, and where civilizations would have once definitely birthed an Evil God by 100%, it has become a remarkably uncommon phenomenon, even if millions of worlds in the present day would fall. It had even restrained the duality of mind and spirt, eliminating the side effects hidden in psionic powers."

Even as the massive silhouette of the demon had conveyed information that would leave countless civilizations in astonishment, it continued, "All things were blessed by them, you and I included."

"Then, there is magic."

"It is the strength to create and make the supernatural common, increasing the number of Extraordinary individuals and creatures across the Multiverse. Because mana itself had nourished the soul, beasts could gain intelligence and therefore develop as civilizations, while the greatest purpose of magic was its great acceleration of civilization progress. The passing of the Wise One of Arcane had also led to the appearance of the Great Mana Tide, engulfing the worlds to spread supernatural powers far wider than before, with the intent to nourish more civilizations and more champions. It had actually been a bridge, guiding all determined life towards their own birthplace."

"Without magic, there would be 90% less intelligent life in the Multiverse, with any creature whose main body was the soul hence disappearing. The waves of the Great Mana Tide had even seen to the rise of innumerable outstanding individuals, with succeeding Wise Ones along with other Demi Saints or champions being endlessly graced. Successor, have you not reached your present level yourself because of the present period of Mana Tide?"

It was certainly so, Joshua nodded, having indeed obtained the growth through the current Mana Tide. With the entire Starfall Era of Mycroft itself being established as a result, one could imagine how many other civilizations and individuals had grown because of that.

Meanwhile, the Shadow continued, "Then, there is lifeforce."

"Its sheer presence has simplified the changes of the physical very significantly. As human consciousness became connected to the physical, Creation has become so simple to the point that life could even be instilled into inorganic objects without the need of a soul, with only the right construct necessary. The Wise One of Life—one whom I am unsure of, since he might have existed but his name has vanished from the present Multiverse—could have even been born before known history, but what is certain is that the change akin to the passing of the Wise One would be the appearance of the Ancient Dragons and Void Behemoths. They formed a natural cycle over the diverse cosmoses, supporting the continuation of life over the stars."

"In the absence of life, there is a lower probability that intelligent life would be born, just as the cycles of the Multiverse would reach their end prematurely. There would be distinct difficulty in changing the physical realm, while every single environment would be ten thousand times worse than before."

"They have already perished in the ancient past, but all of us remain blessed and graced, living in the lingering warmth."

There was actually respect in the Message of the Wise One of Shadow. The demon's silhouette fluctuated as if in salutation, as it softly said, "As for the Wise One of Elements and the Wise One of Ether, both of them appear to be still alive… at least, I have not observed any changes that could be linked to their deaths."

"Nonetheless, elements differentiate each world and create a balance between various elements. You assuredly know of their purpose, although it had been a change for myself—in the past, worlds would indeed perish completely when they fall, but now, thanks to its presence, the elements in the Void would enter the world falling to a destructive spiral and gently nourish it."

"Still, ether itself is even milder. Being direction and power given form, it could create and support various abnormal worlds, such as realms of orbicular sky and rectangular earth, planes, indented or cavity realms. It has made small worlds possible as well, allowing the small to grow profoundly, not to mention that it parts the Abysses from normal worlds, and cycles such as the Vortex of Creation."

At that, the Message became soft as if it was being emotional. Then Joshua, who had been listening intently, heard a familiar term.

"As for the Holy Light," the Wise One of Shadow said thus, "The Holy Light created me."

"The Holy Light…created you?"

Joshua was left taken a back, gazing at the Wise One of Shadow's endlessly deep eyes in the silhouette before gasping.

"Abyss, demon…ah, I get it now!"

Ignoring the warrior, who appeared to have remembered something, the ancient demon shadow continued calmly. "As you could see, I am a demon who has lived—barely surviving in the Abyss of a fallen galaxy. That would never change even now, just as I would not want to change it."

"I was born unto a perished world, thereby experiencing death even before my birth—successor, you have to be aware of the Temporal Trap of the Multiverse. What I am saying here is that time moves a hundred thousand times faster than in normal galaxies or perhaps faster, meaning that it is a place of decimation on the very edge of the Multiverse. In the withered and broken Abyssal realms, my brethren and myself have continued surviving by solely relying upon black hole radiations because all stars have died, with white dwarfs turning dark. All that is left of the universe are cinders of thin particle shrouds."

A deathly universe, where everything is nearing demise.

"In order to exist, in order to live, has been the humblest ambition of life. I diligently studied all superpowers to invoke abilities out of nothing or indeed, to lead my own race towards other galaxies with light…but those places were too far, and regardless of whether the temporal frame of reference varied or because we were in the very edge of the Multiverse, everything was impossible and I was unable to see a thing."

Until that day, when a blinding light connected all of the Multiverse.

"You could not have imagined my astonishment then."

Noticing Joshua's own stunned expression, the demon silhouette solemnly said: "Successor, I was endlessly more shocked than you are now, for I had sensed something calling upon me and upon all Abysses across the Multiverse—naturally, the call itself had been too weak and it was probably the Abyss closest to the call that would answer…but I was different. I am powerful, and I saw the light—and as long as there was light, no matter how weak it was as a beacon, I would be able to keep track of it with my senses."

"Therefore, I came out from the ancient desolation, leaving the galaxy abandoned by the Initial Flame. I grew, becoming an existence with divine strength, and was therefore born in Psi, possessing magical creation, the change through lifeforce, the differentiation of elements, and the support of ether—it was because of the illumination of the Holy Light that the Shadow could continue living. It was because of the kindness of that pure will to help everything that existed and to grant salvation upon all torment that I could now be here."

"However, successor and Heir of the Wise One of Light, what I have told you is not the first change to have unravelled upon the Multiverse—it was neither myself, nor what the other preceding Wise Ones had done."

"…it was the Mastermind." Joshua said gravely as he watched the Shadpw. "Chaos and Evil Gods were the first change of the Multiverse."

"Yes. The Wise One of Shadow replied. "It is the reason we have taken this Trail of Return, and the truth of what has befallen the Multiverse itself: the first one to change things had affected the Initial Flame."

"The Initial Flame is the origins of our present Multiverse, the first Root of all that existed."

"Endless worlds have been born because of it, living because of it."

"It is only in places where the radiance of the Initial Flame reached that there has been existences, and the concepts of limited and unlimited hence divided."

"However, there is a process through which the Initial Flame itself created the Multiverse. I know not of what steps were involved in the process, but there is no question that it was still in its earliest stages."

After pondering for a moment, the silhouette of the demon added, "Just like an infant in a cradle."

"If the Multiverse was allowed to grow naturally, then every world now would still be in a primitive cosmic age, unable to nurture any life.

"Nonetheless, following something unexpected or indeed some special mechanism of our Multiverse, the Initial Flame 'moved' by natural means. The first Temporal Traps hence appeared, and in those worlds first left behind by the Initial Flame where time accelerated, granting to birth to many primitive civilizations and [its] existence.

"What was [it] actually? What was its intentions? I know nothing at all about that, and it is indeed because of that ignorance that I am compelled to journey toward the location of the Initial Flame…there would be perhaps a trap there, a fully armed prison that [it] has prepared, but it is still somewhere I have to go.

"However, there are still things that could be identified."

Pausing for a moment, the Wise One of Shadow said, "First, it is the fact that the growth of the Multiverse has been hastened by us Wise Ones. Our power has enriched the possibilities of the Multiverse, allowing endless beings to exist in diverse forms, but all of that does not comply to the [their] will.

"[It] appears incapable of affecting the Initial Flame directly, and yet could sever the connection between the Multiverse and the Initial Flame, leaving the galaxy where I had lived and the many other galaxies to die.

"Neither did [it] want any civilization to develop, with any civilization with the depth to exist eternally destroyed under the concentrated efforts of Evil God, each cycle of which has been known as an entire era of a civilization.

"Such as the cycle of end that we exist in."

The Wise One of Shadow relayed its information with a solemnness unlike before. "I could deduce [its] purpose, which is to wipe out everything save for the Initial Flame itself and have the Multiverse be reborn anew. That is the only explanation, with the drastic measures [it] has taken."

"As for the Evil Gods that were stagnated eternities, perhaps they were one of the ways that [it] took to preserve the civilizations of the Multiverse. After all, without the resistance by the generations of sages, all civilizations that once existed would probably end up as Evil Gods."

***

Joshua listened carefully. All of what the Wise One of Shadow said was similar to what the Ultimate Sublimator Collective had thought, albeit conveyed in greater detail. Still, even as he listened on, he could not help but left feeling the outrageousness of it all. "If that is the case, is [it] actually not rotten to the core? Even intent on using such a way to preserve specimens of civilization?"

"Even you could call it 'specimen'. Could you really not feel the malice of it?"

The silhouette of the demon shook its head, its tone somber. "To decide the fate of the Multiverse at its own whims, to think nothing of us, treating civilizations and life as specimens…we could have lived and develop in stability. If the Initial Flame had remained in its normal state, the endless cosmoses that have now perished, even the realms that have now fallen down to the Abyss, would perhaps still be basking beneath the warmth of its light."

"After everything that [it] has done, how could it still not be rotten to core? Since [it] would not treat us as living things, we would certainly have to fight, and not allow [it] to get anything it wished for!"

It was the most primitive state of mind in resistance, lasting from the rather short past of the Multiverse until this day—a will which appeared to be aflame.

"I am going now, successor. The Wise of One of the Holy Light still needs me, while the Wise Ones of the Elements and Ether may still be around, awaiting my arrival."

The demon silhouette slowly reverted to its cascading form, even as the pure Message flowed. "This may well be the first time in history that two Wise Ones are existing simultaneously, born almost in the same era on the scale of the Multiverse—moreover, the two preceding Wise Ones have yet to present their post-death phenomenon, and are perhaps in a stand off against [it], or simply waiting for us."

"I will join the battle alongside the Holy Light, and perhaps break the stalemate."

"You are leaving?"

The warrior had known that the moment would always come. Everything was much better than the worst-case scenario, and though it was a demon of the Abyss, there was benevolence in the heart of the Wise One of Shadow, who even answered his own questions in detail…perhaps it was his identity as an Heir of the Sage at work again: even though he had been prepared for death as he came out to stand before the Shadow, not only had he lived, but he had even learnt a great deal of information.

Still, the warrior still felt dejected and frustrated—because at this very moment, he had yet to be able to keep up with the Wise Ones.

Moreover, with the Ultimate Sublimator Collective having mentioned this very era being the last hope there was, he was unsure if he could catch the last train in the future.

Joshua voiced his doubts, asking the Wise One of Shadow who was about to leave when the last chance would disappear, and when the endtime would come.

And yet, the answer he received was unexpected.

"Don't worry about that."

The infinite shadows were at once journeying into the distance and remaining outside Stellaris, with stirring Message wafting to the God of Steel from the Shadow swaying around him. "The essence of the Great Mana Tide is to reconnect the Initial Flame to the Multiverse where their bonds were once cut through endless energy, so that successors like you would be able to head for the origins of all things by retracing the surging Tide and moving upstream."

"Although the connection that the Great Mana Tide has maintained is about to be cut, I would add upon it.

"It would not be only me either. The Wise One of Holy Light—the one you refer to as Sage in your mind—did so as well, using the Holy Light as a beacon. Look, every natural source of light over the Multiverse changes, having certain Holy Light attributes… and that is also the case for the light of the Mana Tide. So, as long as there is study about the Holy Light, those who come later can journey forward with the Holy Light, even if the path of the Arcane should be cut.

"On the other hand, I, the Wise One of Shadow, have created a Shadow Space which would exist in the Void even if the Multiverse should fall. As long as the Initial Flame still exists, regardless of how far it would go or how dark the Multiverse would become, the Shadow Space would remain as its shadow, a variant of its very power.

"This era is certainly over, but all of you still have a future because I have forged it and blessed it upon all of you."

***

Endless Shadow was vanishing.

No, it was not vanishing, but turning into another state, a unique space!

Joshua's eyes widened. With his near-Demi Saint observation, he could see an extra-spatial network formed from the Shadow Space appearing across the range of the Multiverse!

Like a spider's web, it connected between galaxies. The shadows of all the cosmoses were connected like how all light had once been bonded through the Holy Light back then, a brand-new path directed towards the Fountainhead of the Great Mana Tide and the Initial Flame hence appearing within the white-hot radiance of the Great Mana Tide.

It was a Shadow subspace which bridged worlds, the wish of the Wise One of Shadow and a manifestation of its power. It had once again repaired the path of the Mana Tide that was about to be cut, keeping every galaxy connected with the most direct of measures.

"The pioneers would leave a path for successors. We exist because we have been graced by them."

"In turn, the successors would leave a path for their own successors. I had given you a future, but no gratitude is necessary."

"Because it is my conviction that you, successor, would do the same: all grace, blessings, and continuation… they are everlasting and ever repeating, just as they are the evidence that eternal Order and civilizations exist!"

In the end, when the Wise One of Shadow truly left for the horizon, Joshua could hear the kind voice that the Wise One itself heard all those years ago.

"You already wield power far beyond of civilization and life, and yet you now still seek to fight and the Truth… could it be that it is because you cannot stand stagnation? Your enemies are numerous if you continue on this long path, but do all you can to advance. The other Wise Ones and I will be ahead waiting for you in the endless distance for War's (your) arrival."

"Remember, successor. Our lives and civilization do not exist for the world! Instead, it is the world and the fate of the Multiverse that stretches on before us because we exist!"

***

The Shadow left, vanishing from the seemingly unending path of the Mana Tide, leaving only a trail of Shadow that stretched forth in the surge.

From start to finish, it had never asked Joshua for his name, nor did Joshua learn its name.

But it was not important, because they were a predecessor expectant of a successor, and a successor who was keeping up with his predecessor.

The normal Void and Stellaris once again appeared behind Joshua.

Even so, Joshua's heart was unable to restore calmness for a long time.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 

"…Wisdom unquenchable, Order eternal, Legacies reciprocating unto this day."

So that had been the real meaning in that ancient inscription.

One Wise One had arisen one after another, instilling change upon the Multiverse even if they should die, to claim even the faintest of hopes for the future of the Multiverse.

Nonetheless, it was far from enough—even if multiple Wise Ones would perish, it only delayed the end of days by fractions.

However, there was nothing to fear.

For from yesterday to today, today to tomorrow, and tomorrow to the day after—generations after generations and pioneers after pioneers had done that, doing all that they could to secure greater possibilities for successors, adding to their thin, fractional chances of victory.

"Even if tomorrow would prove to be the Abyss and an infinite purgatory, I shall never stop."

Opening his eyes, Joshua calmly raised his hands to look in the direction of the Fountainhead of the Great Mana Tide, looking out over across distance space like what the dying Ultimate Sublimator Collective did just recently.

He clenched his fist, as if wanting to catch hold of that illusory light.

Because the sacrifices of countless people yesterday have forged my today, my today must be an existence for the tomorrow of countless people. 

Volume Eighteen, Abyss of Tomorrow. End.