Legacy of the Dark Sage

"Give my regards to that b*ttface~ I won't see you off."

With that, the fissure that led to Ruin's whereabouts closed further.

More of Deus's figure crumbled, but none of the supposed pain that should have accompanied such experience could be seen on his delicate, beautiful face. Instead, his brilliant light blue eyes glared at Ruin through the fissure with displeasure.

"You will regret this, Azazel! If the Emperor sends that person, that young man will suffer with everyone and everything he holds dear. At least, if I brought him in, they would not be harmed. I, for one, do not want to cross the Fates. But that person is different! You, of all people, should know that!"

"Ah~? That guy?"

A devilish grin spread on Ruin's face as his eyes squinted in delight, "Let him come. I have been itching to settle our scores."

"Azazel!"

Ruin ignored Deus and repaired the fissure he had created. He had no intention of watching the latter getting destroyed. Though he would have loved to see Deus die, the truth was that it was only a temporary death. That was the advantage someone from the Higher Realm had when dying in the Lower Realm.

Rules are established in both Realms that somehow balance the two. 

Just as Ruin commented, Deus had taken for granted the rules of the Lower Realm. Frankly speaking, if the two fought in the Higher Realm, Ruin would not stand a chance. He would have been destroyed easily by Deus's automaton.

Ruin had a slight advantage in the recent fight because they were in the Lower Realm.

Not to mention the magic usage limitation one from the Higher Realm experiences after coming down to the Lower Realm: they had to be careful when using their magic inside a plane. Although such limitation was lifted outside planes, they could not hold the absolute advantage in front of the Lower Realm Sovereigns— unless they used the Dimension.

It was because of the magic usage limitation that prevented Deus from taking the upper hand. After all, if such limitation was not in place, would he have dealt with Ruin using one gigantic automaton?

The answer is No.

Dues have an army of Automatons. If one observes the names of his automatons, one will know that there are more of them. For example, the hooded automatons he initially dispatched have the codes β and δ. The first hooded automaton is an δ, while the three others are β.

Although the corresponding numbers after the figure β of the three hooded automatons are unknown, the fact Deus dispatched them without hesitation is a testament to his indifference to their possible destruction. As for the first hooded automaton, Deus referred to it by the number 54. From this, one can more or less guess there are numbers before and after it.

He did not send the best of the best.

Finally, there is the gigantic automaton Deus referred to with code ε, followed by the number 04. He could have called it a single-digit four (4), but he called it zero-four. Hence, it is not wrong to assume there are more of those bearing two-digit codes.

Deus watched as the fissure where Ruin escaped from finally closed, and his expression of anger disappeared in the blink of an eye. A calm expression appeared on his face as the shattered space's suction froze.

Slowly but surely, Deus's body, which had started to crumble, was reconstructed. Even the gigantic automaton reformed without a single scratch on it.

Above the shattered space, a figure appeared wearing a black robe that blended with the space quite well.

"Your insight is truly a frightening thing. No wonder the Emperor chose you for this mission," the figure remarked.

From the figure's voice, it was easy to discern it was a female.

"I will not have succeeded without your assistance," Deus responded without looking at the figure. "Thank you, Midnight."

"It is an honor to assist your grace, Lord Deus," the figure, Midnight, replied.

The shattered space then distorted and disappeared.

Everything that happened at the end was a ruse that Deus plotted. Although there were things Deus failed to predict, such as Ruin's essence slipping past MEx-ε 04's barrier or his use of Dimension and managing to escape from the shattered space's suction, it was a good call for Deus to ask Midnight's assistance.

Midnight is one of those rare talents in the Higher Realm, possessing an ability of reversal. Her ability reversed the shattering of space, allowing Deus and his automaton to escape their apparent destruction.

Of course, Midnight only managed to do this because she was outside the shattered space's suction range. If not, she would have been pulled in before Deus and his automaton. After all, she was not powerful enough to fight the suction's pull.

"However, just as you told that man, if you failed this mission, His Majesty would have given it to another. There is also a high probability that that person will get involved, just as you predicted. Why did you have to say those things openly when you know I will be here to reverse the situation?"

"If I did not say those things, Azazel would not have left. You will not have the chance to get close and use your ability, saving me at the last minute."

Midnight fell into contemplation but then nodded, more or less agreeing to Deus's deduction.

"I think I understand what you mean. With Azazel's personality— right, his new name is Ruin— he would have noticed something was amiss if you remained calm in front of destruction. If you acted frantic, then he would not hesitate to leave... Eh? But... given your history, would he really leave and not relish your death?"

Deus closed his eyes with a sigh. He replied, "Watching me go through a temporary death will not make him happy. If anything, he would be disgusted at the idea."

"Now, I see the whole picture. They say that lifelong enemies will know each other better than anyone. The meaning of this eludes me, but now I am beginning to understand it."

Deus opened his eyes, and an expression of melancholy fleeted ever so briefly. But then it was replaced with his usual indifferent face as he said, "Enough of that talk. Now that I succeeded in making him retreat back to his plane, my automatons can move freely without his interference."

All this time, Deus's objective was to force Ruin back to his plane. Contrary to the latter's belief that the former had forgotten the Lower Realm's rules, Deus knew it too well. If not, he would not have gone to great lengths to avoid anything inciting those Fates' wrath. Not to mention avoiding other Sovereigns lurking outside Somuli.

Meeting Ruin, not to mention learning his apparent connection with the Heart of the Cosmos's new holder, was the only thing Deus failed to foresee. Because of this, he lost a few of his mid-tier automatons and almost all the information his high-tier automaton had gathered thus far.

"I will have to report to the Emperor about this incident first. Can I ask you to take up what MEx-δ 54 had left in the meantime?"

"Of course," Midnight replied. Her figure shifted, allowing Deus to see her move toward him. "But MEx-δ 54's search is in a standstill, is it not?"

"Yes," Deus admitted. "Unfortunately, MEx-δ 54's critical thinking structure still needs reconfiguration. It placed too much attention in the Land of the Eidum."

"Is it because the target seems connected with the Eidums?"

"Yes."

"Alright," Midnight replied with a nod. "I will then continue with the search. Once I found him, how do you want me to deal with him?"

"Trap him inside the Dimension, then use this to return at once," Deus waved his hand and summoned a crystal disc. He sent it toward Midnight, who waved her hand and took it.

"Very well."

Without waiting for Deus to say more, Midnight's figure disappeared completely.

Deus did not return after she left. He continued to observe the Somuli plane with MEx-ε 04 for a few more minutes before finally deciding to return.

Tearing a fissure in space, Deus willed MEx-ε 04 to move and return to the Higher Realm.

Soon after Deus and MEx-ε 04 had left, and the space the former tore repaired itself, magic fluctuation crackled in the surroundings. After which, another fissure appeared as a silhouette in white stepped out.

If Kyran were there, he would recognize the silhouette.

Ames.

Ames looked down at Somuli's plane with an indifferent expression. Nevertheless, her golden eyes flickered with such zeal, betraying her indifference.

"You are only to observe, Ames. Do not do anything that will alert them."

A profoundly deep and powerful voice spoke from within the fissure, which had yet to close.

"I know," Ames replied without looking back.

"If what you said is true, then he... he might awaken. Do not do anything to incite it, do you understand?"

The voice seemed to crack slightly at the mention of him.

"Yes. I understand, Father."