Chapter 149 - Prayers

"Arbiter of Balance, would you be willing to share a proxy trace with all of us?"

In this situation where the members in the lowest row were already being expelled from the Nexus, and those in the middle rows were getting a bit restless, Rupert's question came as a puzzling one for many.

Maybe noticing the question in Vern and everyone else's gaze, he elaborated, "I can see that you're against the council of overseers, but I am sure even you can't deny the benefits of worldwide information exchange it would have brought with it."

Vern raised his brows, but Rupert continued, "My Essence strands would have been the perfect solution, but as things stand, you already have access to all our traces."

It clicked, and Vern couldn't help but praise this man's quick wit. However, his request was going to be problematic.

"With such knowledge, you could emulate the same effect as my strands and act as an information exchange hub between the visionaries of this realm. However, as things stand, only you can contact us. It's a one-way street without much use to most of us."

"Right! So if we had Lord Axiom's proxy's trace, we could still cooperate with everyone else through him."

Vern remained silent, but he understood where Rupert was going with this.

But what is a proxy trace? he wondered. Is that a fake trace one can form? However, he instantly rejected that idea. If one could fake their trace, its knowledge wouldn't be a big deal at all.

Another idea soon came to him, Maybe it is the trace of a subordinate or something? It made more sense. That felt like a viable way to go about solving this problem. Except such a person's life would be fleeting, and why would anyone willingly agree to such a job?

Ughh. This complicated things for him. He didn't have anyone like that, nor did he want one.

Vern narrowed his eyes, thinking, Rupert must have deliberately waited until the last moment to ask this of me. It put him in a difficult position: agreeing would aid Rupert's own interests, but refusing would paint Vern in a bad light.

It would make the Zeroth Axiom seem like someone who preached morals but wouldn't do even a simple favor.

Hmm, maybe he wants to test the limits of my abilities. Vern stared at those sutured eyes. There was no malice visible on the surface, but he felt like a hungry monster was lurking behind them, waiting for him to slip up.

Ughh, can't they just do what Esther did to reply to me without knowing my trace?

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Hmm. I don't know. It's possible some restrictions in that method which limit its long-term usage.

"Coven Master is right." Shouted someone from the third row. "Lord Axiom, if you could help arrange the rescue of our city—" but then, the voice abruptly cut off as blue light enveloped him, and like a streaking star, he disappeared.

Vern bit his lip. This is problematic. I have no logical reason to refuse this. But I can't act as this 'information exchange hub,' even if I wanted to.

While he could broadcast messages, what Rupert and his people expected required precise control and detailed note-sharing, something he couldn't perform.

He furrowed his brows, rethinking it from all angles.

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Yeah. I can't do it. He was only really sure of one person's trace in here, and that was his fellow pretender, and even that was because of additional information he had. For everyone else here, he couldn't really connect faces with the runic trace.

These runes were practically meaningless for pinpointing anyone in this crowd.

What was worse was that there would be terrific advantages if he could actually do what Rupert wanted. The whole world's vital information going through him could cement his position as one of the most influential figure of all time.

Bug again, there were cons to that, too. He'd already heard tales of people losing themselves to whispers because they came in contact with something they shouldn't have.

Who was to say these people wouldn't try to send something of the sort to him? And as a first-shade observer, he would be utterly defenseless against such attacks.

I'll have to deny it, he realized, feeling apprehensive and regretful about the decision.

It wasn't rational, and Rupert would definitely draw conclusions from his refusal, but there was no other way. If he agreed now but failed to do his job properly later, he'd only expose flaws in his disguise and get caught in his own lies.

Besides that, he didn't trust anything Rupert suggested. Who was to say this wasn't a trap? Nexus had restricted his prowess, but the methods at his disposal outside this setting would be beyond anything Vern could even imagine.

Yeah, no.

His mind made up, Vern looked up, "I—"

"Have some shame, Rupert," rasped King Keras, cutting him off. Vern swallowed the rest of his words. He turned to see Keras, who suddenly seemed uneasy about interrupting him.

Vern gave him a nod, and Keras thanked him with a gesture before turning back to Rupert. "You really expect Lord Axiom to take on such a demanding task without anything in return?" He sneered. "Worse, you expect him to have expendable observers around himself like you?"

"What a joke! You think the Lord doesn't have his own matters to attend to? That he has the time to play messenger for every little gossip all of you want to share with each other?"

Ah, well, that's one way to do it. This was a valid reason. Except, it wouldn't have been as effective if he'd said it himself.

He finally realized how great of a job Rupert's own lackeys had done in this regard by helping him convey critical information without his own intervention.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Yes, keep going. Vern encouraged King Keras with his demeanor. The man clearly had more to say, and Vern was happy to take all help he could against Rupert. Especially from someone who was once on par with the man.

But the hazy-faced Rupert suddenly cut him off, "I would have gladly made the sacrifice if I had the means to do so. Lack of effort or remuneration is no excuse not to help millions in need."

"A being of laws—Axiom should understand this, too. It's not too much to ask to share trace of a person close to him, is it? Surely one life isn't more important than all the ones that could be saved, right?"

What was left of the rapidly disappearing crowd nodded, their faces pleading and hopeful.

This fucker… He was ruthless with his words, seizing every chance to tarnish Axiom's reputation.

Damn! I have to do something.

Seeing Keras at a loss for words, Vern ran through his options before settling on one. Shaking his head, he declared, "I don't owe any of you anything."

This silenced the entire crowd, guilt painted across their faces. Not the response he wanted, but it would have to do. With a chilling coldness in his voice, he continued, "My only loyalty is to Balance. I won't meddle in worldly affairs unless the equilibrium is disrupted."

Rupert chuckled, and right when he was about to say something, Keras interrupted, "Show some humility, Rupert. You may be an Eterna but don't forget what happened just moments ago. If you think you're in charge here, why aren't you standing where the Lord is?"

This gave Rupert a pause, but Keras continued, "And if there's really something that warrants Lord's attention…"

He paused, then shifted to a more reverent posture before continuing, "One could always follow the old ways and pray in the name of the arbiter of balance."

Vern had to summon all his willpower to hide his surprise at this revelation. What? How would that even work?

The impact of this proclamation was clear. The crowd grew thoughtful while Rupert snorted and looked away as if he found the idea distasteful.

Keras spoke again in a reverent tone, "Given the Lord's actions today, it's clear they have carved their singularity deep on the unified perspective. Especially considering the unique audience they had for his resurgence—us visionaries who can imagine anything, their impact is bound to be even more profound."

Glancing at Rupert from the corner of his eye, he added, "As long as your prayers are sincere, they will reach the Lord."

What the hell? Vern struggled to keep himself from asking that question. He understood the words but felt they suggested something too grand. It didn't feel real to hear words like prayer associated with himself.

So prayers are actually real, then? Ever since delving into Fundamentals, he'd considered them to be nothing more than a means of self-consolation and a display of faith. But this…?

He pondered these words in silence, just like the crowd.

Breaking down Keras' statement word by word, he began to understand. So, prayers are another form of communication. But from his limited understanding, they functioned differently from the Convergence Note.

It relied on him having 'carved his singularity' onto the unified perspective, which was a fancy way of saying he was famous.

So, Keras thinks I've left an impression that's deep enough such that anyone can pray in my name directly and possibly reach me?

That was…intriguing, to say the least.

However, at that very moment, an incomprehensible raving suddenly echoed in his mind.

Vern frowned and focused on this sound, and it quickly became clear. They were…words. It said, 'O Lord Axiom, arbiter of balance, I beseech thee—grant me insight to reconquer this Third Rune wrought forth by your esteemed disciples.'

The voice continued on, but Vern's mind halted right there.

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What!?

His head snapped towards a peculiar man in a top hat and violet coat in the fifth row. The man had his arms crossed as he muttered something to himself with his eyes closed.

He gasped. This…

Refocusing his mind, Vern listened to the incomprehensible babbling again. It repeated the previous words and continued, 'For this burden is beyond my talents and threatens my very being. Guide me through its tempest, that I might harness its power without succumbing to its whims.'

Gears whirled in Vern's mind as things rapidly began clicking in their place.

Hensen is praying to me for help in mastering the Third Rune? What kind of joke was that? Hensen was supposed to be the one with all the information.

That had to be the craziest thing he'd heard today. Even more absurd than Rupert's mandate of Omniscience.

Also, what was this timing? He heard a prayer the moment Keras explained it.

Or…

It was like he'd analyzed beforehand, where he might have had the ability to do some new thing for a while, but becoming aware of it is what allowed him to finally 'observe' it and interact with it.

Like his intuitive ability to feel structures.

However, suddenly, the raving in his mind disappeared, and he looked back up only to see a blue light enveloping Hensen.

Is the fifth row now expelled, too? Things were happening too quickly.

Should I warn them one more time?

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No. He concluded after some deliberation. I've already said my piece. I need to maintain this image.

Surprisingly, however, King Keras wasn't done. "Hahhh." he sighed, "I'd hoped we would have some time to chat among ourselves and catch up once the consensus was over. Many of you are my old friends, and while I can't say I am not disappointed by your choices today, I do understand them."

He shook his head, "But I suppose the fate had its own plans." Blue light enveloped him alongside others on the seventh row, but it was slow to permeate.

In this haze, he lamented, "There's a lot that still needs to be done, but I guess we'll have to do it the old way—or pray to the arbiter to get our pleas across."

Standing taller, he nodded to everyone, "I wish we could convene together like this again under better circumstances and brighter skies. Until then…" the radiance around his body exploded."

The glowing figure turned towards Vern and bowed another time before saying, "May the shades of your perception carve your path to singularity," and his whole being dissolved into a cyan beam as his last words echoed in the air.

Many voices came together to respond in farewell but were cut off just as abruptly as the Nexus threw out their owners.

Finally, blue light washed over Rupert. He stood up and dusted his coat, his fierce eyebrow and closed eyes aimed at Vern. But he didn't say anything.

Vern stared back, his eyes exuding an unmatched might, but internally, his head swirled with complicated thoughts. This man is sophisticated and shrewd. Everything he did had a purpose, and it would be wishful thinking on Vern's part to assume he was done playing his tricks.

However, he'd done enough for the day. They were leaving, and he could finally go back to his comfier bed back in Hotel Inkwell.

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The lord of Primordial Blood didn't bother standing up and continued to file his nails away without a care in the world.

Then, there was the poser lady. Surprisingly or unsurprisingly, an aqueous radiance also began to swirl around her at this time.

The first one to go was Lord of Primordial Blood, then Rupert, who tapped his cane as if to assert dominance before he disappeared. Last of all was the lady.

Vern turned his gaze towards her, and she stared back.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Why's it taking so long? he mused. Right when things began to turn awkward, and she parted her lips to say something, the blue glow exploded.

Schwaa

This final burst of light snuffed out, and before he knew it, even the pillar with the lotus dome behind him lost its radiance.

"Everyone is gone," he muttered in relief after checking the feedback from the Nexus.

His surroundings grew dark, and he waited for his own turn. When a dozen seconds passed and nothing happened, he frowned and murmured, "What's going on?"

He reached out to his face and removed the mask. "Hahhhh," he let out a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. "I need to get a better mask. Why the hell is this thing so heavy?"

Many things had to be addressed, but his head throbbed, and his body felt weak. I just want to sleep.

He massaged his temples for a while, but no blue light came to whisk him away.

"Did the Nexus forget about me?" he wondered aloud.