Nia, Lulu, Allen, Su Han, all these people changed him quite a bit. Though he let loose a bit around them, showing his casual side that only the system knew off, such as his plain retorts and languid choices in life.
But overall, he was still the same.
Maybe this was development... Or maybe it was just the bundling up emotions and feelings he got with every promotion he made. One would never know.
"That's great and all, but the [Realm Will] would like to talk to you"
"Tell it I'm busy." Enigma immediately responded without any second thoughts. How many years has it been? He probably owed it a lot by now, and it was here to collect debt.
"The [Divine Realm Will] is like the son of the [World Will], so don't worry about your debt... plus, it's quite desperate"
The system casually added, causing Enigma to stop and think about it for a moment. He was above a beautiful and serene forest, but beauty aside, it was quite dangerous.
"How desperate?" He asked carefully.
"110% desperate. If you dont answer, it will just use any means necessary"
It responded. Enigma sighed and reluctantly agreed to connect with the Realm Will. This time around, he was thinking carefully and won't be scammed.
「Finally... It connected, how long were you going to make me wait young man?!」
The voice of a young man around his twenties immediately violated his ears the moment it connected, tempting the sickly boy to want to disconnect without a second thought.
「No no no, don't do it... I need you young man—」
"Unfortunately, I'm straight, married and a father of five. I'm not available." He instantly cut it off with a plain voice, devoid of emotions. He now knew how everyone felt around him.
「...Anyway, please help me」
The Realm Will ignored his words and desperately called out, surprising even Enigma. 'Are you really this desperate?' But he did not need an answer.
"I'm listening." He said.
「The world is going through a Cataclysm. Mother cannot do anything about it and has to let nature take its course, watching like a bystander as her creations fall apart」
「But this is normal, and happens through every Cataclysm. It just so happens that death comes with every Calamity, followed by ascension and then union」
Enigma smiled lightly and Condensed a small cloud to sit down on. He then asked playfully, "So, what got you so flustered? And why are you making it sound like it's a bad thing?"
He didn't understand. If this was needed for people to grow stronger and unite, then what were they complaining about? Weren't they higher beings greater than the gods?
「You don't understand. As Universal Wills, we do rule over Gods and Realities, but, that is under strict conditions. We cannot do anything extreme or intervene too much in the structure of the world」
「We are considered 'Real Extraterrestrial' beings, thus, it's not allowed for us to intervene within terrestrial matters unless something extreme like this happens」
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIt elaborated, confusing the young man quite a bit. "Extreme? What's actually so extreme about this time's Cataclysm? The world is ending?"
「No. Yes. Partially... Usually, after every Calamity, the world will get its population reduced by at most 10%, 20% and 30%, reducing its population to at most half what it usually was before every Calamity」
"Then where's the problem there? Aren't there still quintillions of people alive even then?" Enigma inquired. It wasn't that the trillions that died didn't matter,
But it was just quite insulting for those who did their best to survive through all the trouble, to be neglected, as if dying was a better choice. They did well by surviving, you know?.
「That's not the problem. We've seen infinite lives die so far, ever since our birth five million years ago. Unfortunately this time around, maybe not even a million might survive」
The Realm Will's words shocked Enigma quite a bit. He had almost ten billion believers, what happened to all of them if not even a million would survive throughout the whole of Great Terra?
「Buts that's not all. The world might enter a special phase not long from now, which will be the killing factor of most of the living beings. This phase will return everything to the beginning」
「Evolving the world to a Grand World, in simple terms, a Supreme World」
Enigma looked at the characters floating before himself and wondered where was the problem there? Can't living beings be created?
「A Supreme World is a world with less restrictions to itself. Creator beings and maybe those stronger, beings as strong as the Ancient Gods would also be allowed to act freely there」
「Worst of all, those 'Gods', 'Spirits' and 'Entities' trapped within Purgatory might be released during the reshaping of the world. They are the beings that will purge the world of all life, reducing everything to dust」
「Even someone as strong as yourself, will be canon fodder before them. Demon Gods of Hell, Heavenly Gods of Heaven, Origin Gods of the Radiance Realm, Abyssal Gods of the Abyssal Realm... all of them will be small fries」
「Even their leaders, the Seven Rulers, are nothing but Canon fodder to the Wardens of Purgatory. They are considered "mid-class" there. So please, help me, help us... Anomaly」
Enigma was silent for a while.
He believed what the Realm Will said, as even Creators from back at home, the current highest level of beings that their Reality could accept, didn't play around in Purgatory.
"So, what help do you need? Want me to stop Purgatory or something?" He casually threw out such a question, but his tone was already retreating.
Having tens of Divine skills didn't mean he was Invincible. He probably would be if he was at his "peak", without any of the restrictions at all though, he thought.
「There will be rewards. Don't worry, as long as you keep more than a trillion beings alive, I will reward you handsomely」
Enigma was about to ask, but a new notification popped up, and after reading it, he shut up instead. After a moment, he sighed and wondered out loud.
"A mere Mortal, a being such as myself, despite how special I look, or how abnormal I may seem. Am I not still a child? To push down so many burdens on my shoulders." He said, his tone carrying dejection.
「....」
"...How cruel can this generation be?" He emphasized. The words from the system were simple, it just told him that he got a new mission, a horrifying one at that.
"Congratulations on triggering the "easiest" mission you can ever think of"
"Journey of New Beginnings (SSS+)"
~
~
"Journey of New Beginnings(SSS+)"
"Mission Details: The Realm Will desires help from you, a being who is not affected by common sense and logic, and bearer of a secret divine ability "Paradox Lord". It hopes that you, with the effects of the skill, can Defy logic and do the impossible"
"1. A healthy protagonist(A+)"
"2. Peace Throughout The God Realm(S)"
"3. ?????(S+)"
"4. ?????(SS)"
"5. ?????(SS+)"
Just by looking at the difficulty, he felt like sulking. But he still opened up the details of the first two, which seemed like the easiest.
"A healthy protagonist(A+)"
"Mission Details: Before embarking on a journey to save a Greater World, you must first protect yourself and come out safe. Find a way to survive through your trial-battle not long from now"
"Rewards: Obscene Demon God's blood droplets(×10), Mother Tear's Soul Jewel(×1), Demon God Soul Fragments(×2)"
"Peace Throughout The God Realm(S)"
"Mission Details: Bring peace towards the God Realm by pushing back the Cloud Palace before more Gods are slaughtered. Make sure that the God Realm does not lose its prestige"
"Rewards: Reiki Essence Orb(×5[+100%]), Divine Seed of Evolution(×10), Condensed Law of Nature(×1), One Greater Divinity"
Enigma had a lot to say, but before that, he had to debate for something really important here. So, he cleared his throat and began, "Since we are buddies now, let's speak at the same level as brothers."
「That would be appreciated, but you won't turn back on your promise right?」
The Realm seemed to doubt him quite a bit. Enigma didn't change his expression and asked back in confusion, "What promise? Have I already promised to do as you say?"
「....」
The Realm Will was speechless and could only lower itself for the time being. It was truly desperate, no one could blame it here.
"I'll cut you a deal, help me talk to your mother about the deal we once had together. As long as she cuts it down in half, I'll willingly save Great Terra." He proposed without any bit of shame.
「...I've already—」
"I still keep the rewards." Enigma interrupted without any hesitation. He had learned the bittersweet feeling of conning others, and was slightly, just slightly addicted to it.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Are you sure you were conning them?"
The system retorted. And Enigma ignored it. He still wasn't 100% sure that he was an Ancient Origin, to him, this was a Status he gained after lying.
What are the chances?
「....」
The Realm Will felt stumped and didn't know what to say. Including the cost of his new sworn brothers, he owed the World Will, Great Terra, around 60 Originity (60 billion faith points).
That was too much.
"Don't sulk, I'm doing you a great favor here. I should be demanding the World itself for something this dangerous you know? Count your Blessings man..." He felt bad, and decided to add on a few more words.
It seems he wasn't yet suitable to be a professional conman.
"...."
「....」
"...."
There was a moment of silence between all three great entities. The Realm Will felt like it made the wrong decision, Enigma felt like pulling back, the system felt like maybe its job won't be as dull as before.
"...Or, I can just leave..." Enigma added the last straw. He genuinely wanted to leave, but didn't expect that light statement to strike the nail while it was still hot.
「...Deal」
The Realm Will immediately agreed and vanished, afraid that he would give out more increasingly unfair demands for itself.
Enigma was impressed how fast it took off, but he didn't seem to mind it that much. He continued on the small cloud he created using "Weather Manipulation" that had become "Cosmic Manipulation".
While on his way, he briefly glanced at the new missions, appearing as if he had a lot to say. The system saw through his intentions and casually said,
"You can complain all you want"
"...with pleasure." He didn't refuse the system's kindness. He had all the right in the world to complain, "Quick questions first, how many missions can a person have at once?"
He inquired, because as of now, he probably had over ten, maybe even over fifteen missions. What would happen if he ignored them just like that?
Will they disappear or stay there forever?
"Aside from time-limited missions, or very important missions such as S-rank and above, you can have as many as you wish"
"As of late, missions are developed through your current actions. For example, if a king requests you to kill a god, a mission will be born, and the King's reward will be included, as well as one from the True Will"
"It's not time-limited, so you can spend as many as ten, a hundred or even a thousand years to kill the god. The mission will stay with you until you kill the God, or is given to another person, who would complete it faster"
"But, if a god requested you to stop the death of a certain person. Then, if that person dies, the mission will disappear, and as long as he doesn't die, it will stay with you until the one who gave you the mission gives you the rewards"
"...."
Enigma nodded as he understood everything. There was also a hidden info there, that, if you're not careful, you might be scammed.