"Can you feel it?" Darla asked the dead Liya, whose head she held by the hair. "You can't, of course. Too weak. Your senses are blinded by your perspective. Here, let me help. See Reality for what it truly is."
She denied the youngling's senses to give her new ones. Liya couldn't currently sense anything, but she would remember if she revived. It only depended on her Realization to progress rather than break, and she would return to life. The old ways of Realization Rupture, which Darla had hinted at in other parts of drow Path progress, were mostly forgotten, but as far as she was concerned, that was the only way forward. She wouldn't let her people walk a lesser Path.
Anyway, Liya would remember seeing Reality gather. Metaphysical energy and ideas she couldn't put into words revolved around Samir's Node. A past so distant Liya hadn't been born yet and the present mixed with the future to produce a singular moment long in the making. A vortex of coincidences and carefully manufactured moments filled Samir with momentum that shattered it beyond repair, yet few could notice it.
Most importantly of all, the visitors coming like moths to the flame couldn't feel it; they had to give up their connection to Reality to rule absolute over it.
"Isn't it marvelous?" Darla asked. "We like to think we understand how Reality works. The Alliance believes it more or less tamed its local Sentience through its Supremacies. Yet, which of us could see every trace of subtle connections and plan for something like this so long ago? A strike right now against their newest Voice... It'll hurt them more than even they understand. The guests can feel the countless breadcrumbs all loosely connected to the boy and came to see him. Which random C-rank has so many S- and A-ranks linked to him? And so, they came to die, as the Heavens decreed so long ago. Our Supremacies could do nothing to change the purpose of this first-class talent, no matter how much they tried."
The guests stepped into Samir, and the Node shattered in the middle. It closed off firmly until the matters inside concluded one way or another. Not even S-ranks could infiltrate it or leave. Without special means, even looking inside was impossible.
Darla smiled, then felt something. She looked at Liya, frowned, and sighed. "He's that important to you, huh?" She poked Liya's face. "And I planned on initiating you on the mysteries of the flesh, too. What a shame. I suppose I pushed a little too hard, didn't I? Injured souls are a bitch to control."
Denying her own influence on the youngling so Liya's Realization didn't get damaged beyond repair after her First Rebirth would be slightly challenging in most other situations, but the Void Tide let Darla pull a subtle string of coincidences with none the wise. She couldn't do it more than a few times without the Void punishing her for her meddling, but while plans ceased to matter in a Void Tide, chaos came with its own advantages.
"Now, what was that little rainbow wolf called? Ah, yes. Send a message to Achr Vanuugandr: if your experiment with Shadows would benefit from the blood essence of the strongest orc to have ever lived, you're about to run out of time to collect it."
That should be enough for the wolf to create a cognitive-blood-essence resonance through Reality for the cat to follow. To think Uk'Gaar's blood essence would still be useful after so long. Destiny was a curious little thing.
Then, she paused. Recalling the name of a half-step S-rank who didn't want to be remembered was more challenging. She had to Deny her own self to also Deny the cat's power over her and recall the nebula war tiger's name.
It had been so long since she glimpsed into that slice of Spacetime where Purrrkrrrr had stated she would be willing to take Shen as a disciple! She would've failed if the Primordial Rising Star, Yonolar, hadn't been dying. The challenge had been high, and the reward seemingly none, but the information would pay off now—if the boy survived, that is. Reality wasn't kind when it collected all the interest for the talent it dispensed.
"Send a message to Purrrkrrrr: She didn't fail her Audition, but she might fall soon. Achr Vanuugandr will let you watch through Reality's blockade."
That should be it. Shen was drow, so she had gone a little beyond for him and Liya. Already, she smelled the Void approaching, trying to taint her. She would have to stay away from most matters for a while, at least until her soul healed, which would take months after she forced herself against Liya. What a powerful Realization her Karmic Balance was! If she managed to Elevate it...
Darla let go of Liya and set herself to watch the show.
She smiled when the boy started with a monologue. He was so bold, too, directly naming the guests he hated! It pushed them even more strongly towards him!
And to denounce Reality itself for his misery!
Ah, the hubris of the young.
She loved it.
----------------------------------------
Emissary and human looked at each other in silence for a while. Shen waited for death. It didn't come.
He took the opportunity to leave a little speech for whoever looked into the past to see his demise. Why not? He would die anyway; nagging a little sounded right.
"They named me Rising Star," he said. "Empty words with empty meaning. I was given advantages in a children's game, none of which could help me grow. Cultivation doesn't care for the trinkets sold by the Alliance."
Just as he started talking, he understood the people he had always thought to like the sound of their voices too much. When facing the end of your existence, speaking wasn't just a matter of arrogance. It was proof that you had lived up to that point. A hope that the echo of your words would continue after you passed. An attempt to stroke the inner fires of self-confidence; to tell yourself that you had mattered at least a little.
A last act of defiance against a Reality that had birthed you only to mercilessly chew you before you could accomplish your goals.
Sure, this wasn't on Reality, but the Void, but his resentment didn't care.
"Born a cripple. Given a chance—an illusion. My father sacrificed so much for me. My former clan suffered so much because of me. People cared for me.
"All for naught.
"People suffered for me and will suffer after I'm gone. I, too, made countless suffer. Not by my own will, but my hands were the tool that quelled thousands of innocents. Fucking Primordials. My victims' loved ones cried and had to accept their fate. I cried, but I had no choice but to obey. What can the weak ever do?
"It's all for absolutely naught.
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"Is this life, then? Is this existence? The one you're trying to destroy, oh Void almighty? What's the damn point of existing like this? A fleeting passage through space and time, leaving so little behind, and even those traces will fade eventually. Who remembers the great heroes of the past? Or of the present, for that matter. What does it matter if I saved more humans than I killed? They, too, will come to pass one day. Humanity won't be eternal. No one is.
"Why do you even care to consume everything? We'll destroy our own selves in due time."
He was just monologuing now. He still didn't expect an answer. He got one.
"You were right," a female voice said from above. One Shen hadn't heard for a long time. One he dreaded the most.
Valentina.
He looked up to see two humanoids clad in armor that looked like a mirror, completely covering them. It was hard to see them on the Voided Subnode's gray background. He could feel nothing inside the equipment. He couldn't even feel they were there.
"About what?" the second person asked. Her voice was of an older woman. Mature without being ancient.
Shen didn't recognize the language they spoke, but he understood every word with absolute clarity. It was as if Reality itself was speaking, like feeling the wind and knowing it was the wind or seeing light and knowing it was light. The language spoke true, and all in creation knew its meaning, even if they had never learned a single word or complex concept in any other language. Even animals would get it. Instinct would let one understand it as it lets one breathe and eat to survive.
"Someone saved the ant. And someone told it about my true identity. And now, they are trying to get the Void to clear the evidence." She paused. "Also, watching an ant recognize its insignificance is entertaining."
Anger boiled inside Shen. Anger he had never felt before. Fury consumed him, ignoring all his attempts to control his emotions. There was no keeping that contained. Not before her. Not being mocked by her.
Shen could barely think as he threw himself against Valentina. He activated his domain. There was no denying he would die, so he would do so on his own terms, even if he was twisted by his soul injuries.
If he got lucky, he would bring her down with him. He didn't truly believe it would happen, but he had to try. And even if he failed, it was better to fall trying to kill her than by a random Void Spawn that would cease to exist right after killing him.
Shen moved.
The world twisted.
He was looking at the Emissary, and Void Spawn that had already positioned around him were just getting in position. He had been sent back in time.
"Slightly entertaining, indeed," Valentina said with a chuckle. "It even tried to kill itself to injure me!"
The second being shook its head. "You shouldn't have touched it, Voice of the Choir. The Purge has yet to start. Rules are important. It's what keeps us strong. What separates us from the ants."
Valentina looked at the older woman. "Are you calling me an ant for not following the rules?" Her voice was filled with the anger of pure fire. Muted, but there. Waiting to explode into a ball of flames.
"I wouldn't dare, Voice of the Choir." She sounded slightly apologetic. "I was, however, sent to teach you the Score, including all its rules. I can't teach if I must mind my words. Kill me if you find fault in me. Another just like me will be appointed to you."
Valentina humphed. "You're just like Yonolar. He died."
"He did."
Shen tried to move instead of harmlessly watching the exchange. He couldn't. An invisible force he couldn't detect held him in place.
Valentina turned back to Shen. "So I can't kill it?"
"You can do whatever you want, Voice of the Choir. That is the calling and right of your august position. But all action from one such as you comes with consequences. Preparing for the Purge includes marking those who personally sinned against you and letting them know. The despair of being found out before the Purge is part of the price they pay for their arrogance and the destruction of the Order we so painstakingly cultivate. Anything more than a warning is an attack. The first attack starts the Purge, and the Choir has already voted on when that will happen and who will throw the first punch. You'll be punished if you force our hand before the time."
The woman spoke calmly, almost bored. Regardless, Valentina revealed a hint of fear in her voice as she replied, "I didn't attack the ant."
"You touched it against its will. Yet, it indeed was no attack because you never touched it, did you? Not any longer. Not after you reversed time for it. The moment you touched it has not happened yet. A small loophole that will get you in trouble if you exploit more than a couple of times, but a loophole nonetheless."
Shen had something to say about that, but he couldn't because he was being forced to stay still. He was still being attacked. Screw them for their lies.
Valentina asked, "What did you want me to do here if not kill the ant?"
"Follow the threads. Mark the culprits. Warn them of their impending doom. It helps uncover traitors. I heard whispers of the Primordial Bridge finally betraying us after so long, but the details are cloudy. This Purge will be unlike any other, and if you uncover something important, you'll save lives."
Valentina sounded very confused as she replied, "I don't care about saving ants."
"I'm talking about our people. This Purge will be resisted. The signs are there. There will be war, and some of us will fall."
Valentina didn't reply anything for a few moments. "Are you lying?"
"I'm physically incapable of lying to a Voice of the Choir."
"We don't die Purging corrupt ants."
"You can try to use your Voice to make it so. It won't work. Reality still resists some commands. Not for long, and the ants can feel it. The Primordial Song is almost complete, and they grow desperate. Don't underestimate desperate S-ranks. Our Voices will likely not fall, but our average warriors will pay the toll for everlasting glory, as we always have."
Valentina just stared silently at Shen for a while, then shook her head. "I still don't believe it, but I'll follow the Score. Ant, tell me who saved you from me and who revealed my real identity to you."
Shen, obviously, said nothing.
Then, Valentina spoke in that unique way of hers. The one that corrupted his entire self before.
"ANSWER ME SINCERELY."
The words hit his True Self like a battery cannon striking an egg. Shen thought he died. Maybe he did. However, he was remade anew and slightly different.
He was remade into a snitch.
"Long Hei saved me in the past and recently indirectly led me into guessing you were a Primordial."
The words left his mouth unbidden. He didn't want to speak. He spoke anyway because it was the right thing to do. Reality demanded it of him. He was no more able to resist it than a dry leaf could resist a gale. He was pushed by forces much stronger than him.
"Who is Long Hei?"
"Samir's Acting General, Second Seat of the Eternal Empire, A-rank abyssal dragon."
"A dragon?" Valentina looked at the older woman. "Did we know about the dragons opposing us yet?"
"We did, but this is the first abyssal dragon. Things will get thorny if the Abyss is involved. They never cared about Reality before. As far as I know, this is a betrayal no one is aware of. It's probably an isolated action from a denizen of the Abyss, but it must be investigated." She paused. "This ant is abyssal, too, isn't it? Barely, so I didn't notice it before. But it's there." She paused again and approached. "What is this—"
Reality spoke, a gasp it had been holding ever since Shen was born. Ever since he had been created and molded just for this moment. Ever since he had been made a first-class talent. For the first time in his life, he knew why he had been made such.
THE RECKONING BEGINS.
Shen had been created to kill Valentina here and now.
Power unlimited rushed into Shen. His every cell and atom burst, and he was unmade into nothing but Energy. He became a humanoid made of pure light.
His mind expanded. He saw a world unlike any other. He didn't see material physics or even the underpinning Laws of Reality. That was too shallow. He saw deeper. He peered into the Aspects and Expressions and knew he had been lied to. Time was no Aspect. Time was an Expression. Change was an Aspect.
The Aspects of Will, Space, and Change birthed the Expressions of Energy, Time, and Sentience.
That's why people could affect Time so seemingly easily. He could see how some Aspects and Expressions were tied to the Axioms of similar names. The Axioms of Space felt so solid that tugging it a little should take everything. The Axioms of Time, not so much. That was the difference between Aspect and Expression.
And he saw the Axioms themselves. Their entirety. Mastered Laws were laid bare to him. His mind exploded, and he forgot things about himself. He had been made more by Reality but was still limited by his base power.
He couldn't comprehend so much, and glancing at some secrets of Reality like that broke him down beyond repair. He would never be the same. It didn't matter. He wouldn't live through this.
Shen would die but didn't care, for he was being given Absolute Power, which he had been born to wield. His purpose was fulfilled. His Will was met.
He was whole.
All that mattered now was to meet his personal goals the best he could before he inevitably burned out like a falling star.
He looked at Valentina and decided she would be the first to fall.