Chapter 1007 First clash
The corrupting aura from the Knight flooded the Emptiness as it made its way toward the Daybreak Universe's warriors, but a white burst of light clashed against it.
Ezequiel, Venganza, and the rest of the Daybreak Universe's warriors turned toward the Samsara Thearch, and they saw a solemn expression on this one as he faced the enemy army leader.
Zatiel's face was cold as he saw the Knight and felt a power that matched his own in this one. While he was at a higher realm in terms of cultivation, with one step in the Late Stage, his eyes showed him just how monstrous the physical might of the enemy was.
"I see. Your mind is your own, but your soul and body are just an extension of the core existence of the Beyonder."
A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Knight as he heard those words coming from Zatiel. Like the Samsara Thearch, he was also analyzing his enemy, and a solemn expression appeared on his face when he noticed the White Sun Pupil.
"I now understand why the One Above All is so eager to devour the destiny of this universe and its people. With you, he would finally rise above the limitations of the Late Stage, evolving to the highest plane of existence and creeping for the tower."
Although those words confused many, it forced Zatiel to clench his fist. He knew what the Knight was referring to.
The Empyrean Axis Bastion, the tower at the center of reality, home of the Eternals!
The fact that Beyonder was aware of it and made it its goal told him just how monstrous the ambition of that cancerous universe was.
"Since you will become a part of Master's core, you have the right now to know my name. Nihilak, Harbinger of Desolation."
Nihilak's voice was full of confidence, as if Zatiel could do nothing to avoid that fate.
"So, are you planning on capturing me alive?"
Zatiel's voice was cold but also full of mockery as if the sole idea of capturing him was amusing.
"You do not need to be alive. Even in death, you can become part of the One Above All. Your memory will be extracted from the essence of reality, and you will become part of our Lord." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ Fire(.)net
A chilling sensation assaulted the Daybreak Universe's warriors as they heard Nihilak. The Beyonder's power was so immense that he could extract the memory of someone and devour it. Even in death, people could remember you, yet if someone could swallow that piece of you, that was truly erasing your existence.
"Hmph, I would never become a puppet whose mind is so warped in corruption that sees its killer as a savior."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtZatiel's Samsara Eye had already shown him Nihilak's true nature. This one was not just a spawn born out of the Beyonder, like the rest of the billion mindless drones that formed the vortex of darkness.
If his hypothesis was right, then Nihilak must have been a great hero that faced the Beyonder in the past and failed, reincarnating in his current form. That was most likely also the case for every other Knight.
It was clear that the Beyonder had a sick sense of humor. It used its greatest enemies to form its army's mightiest weapons, the Knights.
Nihilak showed a smile as he heard Zatiel's words, and his corrupting aura faded as the power of Omnipotence burst.
"I am the whisper of longing, the yearning that stirs souls from slumber."
The moment the Daybreak Universe's warriors heard those words, Nihilak vanished from their sight, and they began to listen to a voice that sought to drive them home.
Before the voice could affect the soul of anyone, Zatiel took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
"Yet, I am the stoic wall, unyielding against the tempest of desires."
The Samsara Thearch vanished, replaced by a wall made of golden light that stopped the voice from reaching the Daybreak Universe's warriors' ears.
The Sacred Kings and Extreme Rank 9 inside the Samsara Astra Magicae Codex's formations turned toward the Emptiness Thearch and Revenge Thearch since the clash that was happening right now surpassed their understanding.
After their evolution to the Middle Stage and access to Omnipotence, the minds of Ezequiel and Venganza reached an even higher plane of existence.
Thanks to that, they understand Zatiel and Nihilak were currently using the purest form of Omnipotence, becoming ethereal forces meant to clash against each other. It did not demand a lot of energy, but it required mastery over your mind and Omnipotence that was impossible for the duo.
Even if they were in the Middle Stage, Ezequiel and Venganza understood that the difference between their powers and those of the Samsara Thearch was abysmal. It also meant he was the only one that could face Nihilak!
Instead of explaining powers they could barely understand, Ezequiel and Venganza focused on the clash between the Samsara Thearch and Harbinger of Desolation.
"I am the storm, fierce and unbridled, sweeping away walls and forging new paths."
Nihilak's voice echoed once more, transforming the soft melody into a mighty storm that began to break the golden walls apart.
"I am the calm after the storm, the serene stillness that remains undisturbed."
The mighty storm was about to break the golden wall, but this one vanished, transforming into a serene force that took away the raging power of the tempest.
"I am the echo, the resonance of emotions that lingers long after the calm."
Just as the storm seemed ready to lose all its power, it returned even stronger than before.
"And I am the silence, the void that absorbs echoes, leaving no trace behind."
Zatiel's voice spread across the Emptiness before total silence reigned, finally erasing the echo of thunder.
Just as it seemed that no sound could emerge anymore, Nihilak's voice returned.
"Still, I am the melody, the symphony of hearts in harmony."
The Daybreak Universe's warriors could not help but hear their hearts reverberating in the Emptiness. The external sound had faded, but the one inside their bodies was still strong and fusing into a single tune.
"I am the dissonance, the shattered chords that challenge the melody's unity."
Luckily, it did not last long since the unity of their heart was broken by the Samsara Thearch's words.
"Yet I am the nostalgia, the bittersweet ache that lingers when the music fades."
Nihilak's voice returned, trying to rise above the dissonance.
"And I am the oblivion, the erasure of memories, rendering even nostalgia a fleeting whisper."
At this point, Zatiel's voice grew cold, and the power of his projections evolved to the next level.
"But I am the dreamer, the one who weaves tales in the tapestry of night."
Nihilak did not pull back, acting on the same level as the Samsara Thearch.
"And I am the awakening, the clarity that disperses dreams as day breaks."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Even so, I am the twilight, the realm between day and night, where mysteries awaken."
"I am the boundary, the line that separates realms, guarding secrets from both."
"Yet I am the shadow, the reflection of hidden desires, cast in the light of the moon."
"And I am the illumination, the sun's gift that banishes shadows and reveals the truth."
The Daybreak Universe's army and the billions of souls inside the vortex of darkness watched in silence as their leaders clashed.
At one point, Nihilak transformed into shadows capable of encompassing all existence, only for Zatiel to become a bursting light that illuminated the Emptiness.
The clash between the duo was reaching its zenith, and the power they released was beyond the understanding of anyone beneath the Middle Stage.
"I am the starlight, distant and ethereal, guiding lost souls through the night."
Nihilak became streams of starlight that broke the illumination, tainting the Emptiness in ethereal light.
"And I am the sun, the beacon that dispels darkness and leads the way."
Zatiel's voice burst with power as a massive sun emerged in the Emptiness, casting away everything ephemeral.
Nihilak's voice did not return, and just as everybody thought the winner was clear, darkness began to emerge.
"I am the eclipse, casting darkness over the sun and shrouding the world in fear."
The power darkness of that darkness not only erased the light but also generated a shadow that sapped into the heart and minds of everything, taking away the color of existence.
Just as the darkness seemed to last forever, they heard it.
"And I am the dawn, shattering the eclipse and sundering the darkness."
"CRACK!"
A crack appeared in the eclipse as white light began to spread, shattering the darkness. At this point, the Samsara Thearch and Harbinger of Desolation returned to their physical forms.
Zatiel and Nihilak had exhausted expressions on their faces, but it was the Knight, the one that had blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.
The first clash between the leaders of both armies went to the Daybreak Universe!