Glenn gazed down at the twirling Nitrogen in his palm, thinking.

"Let's think about this a little harder. I call this thing Nitrogen, but is it actually Nitrogen?"

"We did take that power straight from the Heart of Darkness back in the Blessed Grove," said Diamanes with an interested tone, "But magic is what you make it to be. And you've been using this power for so long it practically became one with you, didn't it?"

"Hmm...I think it also had a good compatibility with me," Glenn rubbed his chin.

His Mana Heart was the Milky Way, a literal galaxy. 'Isn't the vacuum of space supposed to be at the absolute zero? Shit, had I known I would possess such powers, I would have paid more attention in classes...'

"Gundam? Do you have any information about...space and the like? Maybe, uh, vacuums?" Glenn asked without much hope. The white prison room echoed with his voice, and soon with his sigh.

"Damn it—"

//Information requested: vacuum of space. Region devoid of matter, including air and atmospheric pressure. Extreme temperatures are dependent on the localization in said space. There would be more chances to suffer from extreme burn damage from sunlight exposure than freezing.

Glenn raised a surprised eyebrow. "Oh yeah? I always thought space would be freezing."

//Freezing damage is possible, but slower due to radiation-only heat transfer. The first cause of death would be the loss of atmospheric pressure, which would cause the mundane human body to boil from the inside.

"Wow, alright. I didn't get everything, but that was more than sufficiently scary. Uhh, what can be associated with cold in space then?" Glenn paced the room, trying to find a good concept to deepen his understanding of Nitrogen.

//Theoretically, if the Limbo is situated in a similar universe to Earth, one of the coldest objects in space is the cosmic microwave background, the residual radiation from the Big Bang. It would be at an approximative temperature of ~2.7 Kelvin and fill all space.

"I'll just presume that it's very, very cold then. Hmm..." Glenn clenched his fist tightly around the Nitrogen, dispersing it. This wasn't working out. Gundam's explanations were actually confusing him even more than he already was.

"What about the absolute zero—?"

//Zero Kelvin is physically impossible to reach and would break the rules of reality. Magic sustaining the absolute zero would surpass even divine power. Reaching close to the absolute zero is the best that can be done.

Glenn sighed, "Okay, scratch that idea, then." He paused and looked at the white ceiling in wonder. "That brings me to the question: Who was Sevirox before his transmigration? From his notes, he sounded like an absolutely genius researcher."

Gundam processed the question for an instant. //Error, status—

"—Creator is required, I know. Whatever..." Glenn interrupted the robot, tired and annoyed. The Sun was easy to visualize—the hottest, brightest ball of light hanging most of the time in the sky was hard to miss after all. But a temperature wasn't as simple of a concept—it wasn't as physical. You can't see cold, even though you can feel it. Nitrogen had the advantage of being a visible gas, at least in the form the Glenn conjured it.

"Wait, visible gas?" Glenn frowned, "The power we took from the Heart of Darkness back then was liquid, and, if I remember correctly, nitrogen should be invisible to the naked eye, unless it's in a liquid state. Did I just confuse myself from the beginning?"

He conjured the Nitrogen power through Diamanes, letting it flow out of his hand. White vapor swirled as it flew away from his palm, disappearing in the air.

"Let's assume this isn't Nitrogen then..." muttered Glenn, "What else could it be?"

"The ultimate Yin! Or something like that. Who cares? Just get it done quickly!" Diamanes exclaimed impatiently. Glenn dismissed him with a thought, concentrating. The white vapor fell on the floor, turning it into ice with a simple contact. The ice crept up the walls, covering even the ceiling with a thin layer of cold. The light reflected in the ice into a myriad of colors. Glenn stared at the show for an instant before shaking his head dejectedly.

The ice melted away and disappeared like a mirage. Glenn sighed. "I have no clue. Maybe Nitrogen is the best way to understand it. It's physicalized cold, after all. Conceptually, Nitrogen just suits me better."

"Great, we lost our time on that one! Excellent! Now, why don't you cut open the wall with Nelg? I'm sure he's sharp enough to do it!" Diamanes tried to press Glenn, "I want fights, battles, not...this! This is fucking boooring!"

"I'm trying my best, Diamanes," grumbled Glenn, "And I'll leave Nelg as the last solution. Passing this hurdle will certainly allow me to grow stronger, so stay patient a bit, won't you?"

"Alright, alright...Why don't you try enhancing Gravity Manipulation then? Even though I'm not sure it can be improved any further," said Diamanes without expectations.

//Incorrect. The observed control of the spell can receive great improvements.

Gundam's voice suddenly echoed in the room. Glenn looked up with a frown.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Are you just watching me all the time?"

//Careful monitoring of all the entities in the Core's effective area is one of my precepts.

"Just admit it, you fucking tin can..." Glenn rubbed his forehead, "How can I improve Gravity Manipulation then?"

//Self-enhancement using Gravity Manipulation would be the best path forward to enhance your physical capabilities despite the lack of an Aura Core. Sufficient skill with that spell would allow for melee prowess comparable to a Grand Chevalier or even a Crusader.

Glenn grimaced, "So, using Gravity Manipulation to strengthen my melee skills? Hmm..."

He pulled Nelg out, using his longsword form.

'How should I go about this?' He pondered. He aimed at the white prison walls and sliced with all his strength, only for his sword to rip against it.

"Ah? Even Nelg can't cut through it? Damn..." blurted out Diamanes.

'Now, using Gravity Manipulation, can I make my attacks heavier? Or lighter? Wait, what if I manipulate the weight of my sword swinging downward to something like five tons? Would that work?'

Glenn's eyes shone as he tested his theories, attacking the white wall relentlessly. Above him, Gundam was silently watching, his calculation cores surcharged with the sudden influx of information. Whatever the robot had in mind, he didn't seem like he would ever share with the Descendant.

At least, not yet.

***

In a celestial abode, beyond the realm of mortals.

The stars were shining brightly above the unassuming, black stone table. Seven chairs surrounded the table, all with a symbol carved on their back: a silver balance, a coiled dragon, an old tome, as well as a steel gauntlet, a skull wrapped in satin, a circle wrapped thorny vines with a cross at its core. And finally... A hole. The last chair's symbol had been carved out, leaving simply...a hole. A hole opening to nowhere, the proof of Their shame, the only trace left of the Seventh.

"We need to talk," uttered the Silver Balance, breaking the peaceful silence of the divine respite.

"I surmised as much," said the Gauntlet.

"Hmf, I knew we should have put an end to that damned dog. It's all the fault of this fool..." The Coiled Dragon humphed with a hint of annoyance.

"We cannot let this happen," warned the Old Tome, "Rules are there for a reason. The Lightbringer already helped one person to break them—we do not need a repeat of that."

"I concur," agreed the Silver Balance. "It's been more than three thousand years since we last had to interfere with the Lightbringer. And due to our negligence back then, we lost a lot. The Limbo is already on the brink of disappearing thanks to D's machinations, we can't allow it to fall any further."

"This wouldn't have happened if it weren't for you bringing outsiders in," the Gauntlet replied mockingly.

"This was the only way," said the Silver Balance coldly, "And had there been another way, I would have certainly chosen it. Who would have thought that one mistake would lead to such disaster?"

A yawn suddenly broke the serious conversation. The symbols—except the Thorny Circle—all turned to the Satin Skull.

"My opinion hasn't changed. I have work to do, stop bothering me with these kinds of things. I refuse to play these foolish games."

The table suddenly broke open in front of the Coiled Dragon. "You fool! All the blame can already be put on you and your...mortality! Now, more than ever, we need to unite and face the future together!"

"Hah!" The Satin Skull scoffed wryly, "Uniting? We were united once. Until we weren't. We're just fools who were lucky enough to end up in a better position than the rest. And even though I'm saying that..." The Skull turned to the Thorny Circle, "...Don't forget where the youngest is now. None of that was my fault. It was our fault, for treating mortals like mortals, and treating ourselves like gods," he spat hatefully. All the other symbols remained silent, unable to retort.

"...So unless one of you somehow manages to bring back the Guide, I'd suggest you leave the Lightbringer alone and leave the world to the mortals. They're the ones living in it, after all." The Satin Skull sneered as his presence faded away from the meeting, the symbol on his chair crumbling away like dust in the wind.

"Tsk. That's only his opinion," the Coiled Dragon hissed, "We can't allow His intent to continue flowing into the world any longer. It is an aberration, and should be terminated!"

"And how would you have us do that?" The Gauntlet asked cheekily, "Do you want us to create another Lightbringer, maybe? As far as I'm aware, your Apostle is now half-human, half-stone, right? How is it going with that?"

"You—!" The chair of the Coiled Dragon crumbled, crushed under a massive, golden claw.

"Stop. This is enough."

The destruction disappeared at the sound of the Silver Balance's voice. "No one stands to win from this. For once, He might be right. Let us all concentrate on our respective tasks, and keep the Outside at bay."

"Talking about that..." The Old Tome suddenly interjected with a curious tone, "How is it that D's presence has returned? We made the rules so that he would never come back, and yet..."

"Yet what?" The Gauntlet laughed, "Who do you take D for? He's the one that turned us from Seven to Six, didn't he—"

"Bloodblade." A scornful voice suddenly interrupted them. It sounded rough, deeply rattling ominously. It was as if the entire world's pain was being felt by that one person. The Thorny Circle turned to the Gauntlet. "Do not speak of that anymore."

The Gauntlet reeled back slightly. The Thorny Circle crumbled away, much like how the Satin Skull previously did.

The Silver Balance sighed, "As always, He just says his part and leaves. How can we continue being called Gods if our members keep acting this way? Where is our dignity?"

"Dignity?" The Gauntlet repeated. He chuckled loudly, His laughter echoing in the divine space. Suddenly, he stopped.

"We lost our dignity the day we betrayed one of Ours. There's no dignity left, only remnants of the forgotten past and crumbling faith." The Gauntlet clicked his tongue as his symbol also disappeared.

"The world is being Corrupted a little more every day," sighed the Old Tome, "I know bringing in outsiders slows down the process, but it's no solution. We will have to ask them for help, Onnea."

"Nonsense!" the Coiled Dragon roared, "I might have lost my kin, but I didn't lose my spine! I gathered these resources all these years for one reason, and one reason only!" The table cracked open once again. "To keep this world alive! The Limbo must not disappear!"

The Coiled Dragon's symbol angrily disappeared, while the Old Tome faded away with a sigh. Only the Silver Balance was left, silent. The symbol turned to the last chair, the Hollow one.

"How come I still feel your presence, and yet you're nowhere to be seen?" muttered the Balance. Eventually, even her Symbol disappeared, leaving only the Hollow chair behind. And as it did for the last three thousand years, the hole in the backrest grew a little larger, devoured by the nothingness.

Even now...

The Hole grew.