Chapter 35
Something Irreplaceable
"Curtain call? What the hell was that about?"
(Sol)
"Don't worry about it. Not important. What is important is both of you and the next move you'll make."
(Zeon)
"He's right, whatever we do next is extremely crucial for our future. Sol do you have any ideas?"
(Toshi)
"Why are you speaking out loud about this if it's important?"
(Sol)
"Did you forget he can read and hear thoughts already?"
(Toshi)
"Manipulate the scale he can do that then. After that I'll tell you my plan."
(Sol)
"This is a pointless effort. Just wait a bit. It will hit you soon."
(Zeon)
"It? What are you talking about? Stop being so damn vague all the ti-"
(Sol)
IT
A huge stain splashed across the irises of Sol and Toshi burned into their minds. They have been left in an expressionless state. Slammed with the reality and totality of IT.
"A pointless effort indeed. So this is the Cloud. Every and any possible action we can or could make are all flowing through my mind."
(Sol)
"WE'RE MEANT TO CHOOSE AN ACTION OUT OF ALL OF THIS?!?! Why the hell did you bring us to such a place this fight could never end."
(Toshi)
"Oh I know. We're not fighting here. I wanted to simply show you guys all of you potential fates and that it doesn't matter what move you take first. You. Will. Not. Win. A link between - undo."
(Zeon)
The "Cloud" fades away from sight
"You're extremely sick. What a dirty sadistic blow."
(Sol)
"Hold on, repeat that again…. Sick? Me? Oh little sun if only you had known the atrocities your God has committed you would be on my side. I would show you but it stops me from doing so. But it's as they say, ignorance is bliss."
(Zeon)
"Correct. I'm glad you became ignorant that there's three of us."
(Sol)
"Take this you bastard. True Heaven Origin 100%: Light X Light."
(Tengoku)
"True Heaven Omen 100%: Dark X Dark."
(Sol)
"True Manipulation: Infinity Factorial."
(Toshi)
A collision of two paradoxal attacks colliding and then being amplified by infinity times itself an infinite amount of times. An attack of this magnitude would destroy all of this frozen Omni. Something of this scale can't be allowed to exist no longer than a picosecond. In the instant it was released it also dissipated but by whom?
Heavy panting can be heard from everyone. Even the great Sol is exhausted from such a paradox that lasted no longer than 1 gogol of a second. So how well does the one who took the full brunt of this attack fare?
"Did w-"
(Toshi)
"STOP! Don't say things like that. In fact after this dust clears no phrases such as "we got him?" "where is he?" "we won!!" "was that enough?". Those words will surely bite us back, I'm sure of it."
(Sol)
The dust clears. Sol gives an intimidating look at Toshi who seems to be holding his utmost back into not saying anything to spell certain doom.
"Wait….. TOSHI DON'T THINK IT EITH-"
(Sol)
"Surely he's dead right?
(Toshi thinking)
As soon as the last syllable hit the air, crashing, turbulent, and extreme shockwaves shook the core of all dimensionality.
"Hahahahaha. Good job, very good job. I must commend you for that. I'm glad I entertained the thought. I wasn't expecting such prowess to be truly impressive. Oh and Mori Toshi don't fret your thoughts didn't bring me back although they could have. That is if ever left in the first place."
(Zeon)
"I'm sorry Sol.. I'm starting to have serious doubts about our chances of winning here. This guy defies all meaning that power is truly just something beyond the scopes of anything I can comprehend. I can manipulate and control concepts but this is far past what I can do. He must be above any natural unknown. Controlling concepts completely relies on your knowledge of said concepts and how you can visualize them being applied. If you can't do that it's impossible to use them."
(Toshi)
"Precisely. Which is why I haven't disabled your powers because I'm incapable of understanding it and also why I can't just control the concept of finding so I can just open a door and find Origin. To be honest I tried that. But he's in a place above something such as "finding". Also my powers apply to everything at that moment so if I changed the concept of death to anyone with the powers of true manipulation and true heaven is now pronounced dead. It applies."
(Zeon)
The words from Zeon come out with a spine shivering chill as if the will of the world and death itself had spoken. Then just like that Sol and Mori Toshi fall from the sky and lie down lifeless corpses.
"HAHAHAHAHA that never gets old. Ah depression is a true pain in the ass I keep putting up these fake fronts of enjoyment. But whatever it takes to satiate it. Now then, concept of the return. Welcome back you two."
(Zeon)
Again a chilling shiver strikes the core of everything around. The breath of life now returns to Sol and Toshi. They spring up in a cold sweat as they panic about what happened to them.
"Did I just die? How did that even happen? I can't die from time, damage, disease, manipulation, or erasure. But I guess the only way I could die is if the very concept of death is me being alive. Why doesn't he just do that to Origin then? Why is he doing all of this?"
(Sol thinking)
"ZEON! WHY AR-"
(Sol)
"The reason why I can't do this to Origin is simple. I don't understand what Origin is. I don't if Origin is a person, entity, or god. Another reason is because that would be farrrrrrrr too simple of a death. Origin needs to feel every single bit and piece of pain I have endured all this time. The trauma I hold, the vengeance I harbor, the rage I bottle. ALL OF IT. It's becoming increasingly more difficult to keep talking about him. Just know that I absolutely FUCKING HATE ORIGIN. Back to the topic. This kind of death isn't permanent either. Eventually I'll have to return the concept of death back to normal because when I rewrite concepts it affects literally ALL TIMELINES AND UNIVERSES and death is a necessary thing in life."
(Zeon)
"All timelines? So that's why I randomly pass out every day. But seriously this guy holds some serious grudge against this Origin guy. Who exactly is he? I'll have to ask Sol if we live through this."
(Toshi thinking)
"This is becoming quite a bore. So as a handicap I'll reduce my power to only known concepts in the world. Such as physics. Now just try to move well you can't even exist damn it I'm going too overpowered."
(Zeon)
As Zeon said physics the entire world turned into floating bubbles of consciousness and concepts.
"HEY WHAT THE HELL WHAT AM I!"
Says the chat box resembling Sol's voice
"True Manipulation: Physical Override."
Says the bubble of words in the likeness of Toshi
"I wouldn't do that if I was you…."
(Zeon)
Toshi invokes an override to the makeups of his and Sol's body. However it doesn't go as he envisions. The bubbles and chat boxes that are now compound and compress, recreating their bodies but…. Instead of something being reformed a natural terror erupts
"Why isn't it working?!?! What's going on?"
The compressed being says
"TOSHI CANCEL THIS NOW. ITS CREATING A EIIWSKKEMSW.l"
The corrupted being says
"Its creating a what??? I cant understand touJwosdiejajaia."
The corruption says
"Sigh…. Look at this mess you made now. An armageddon paradox…. How wonderful. Hmm how to deal with this? I can't get rid of it. So only one choice."
(Zeon)
Zeon takes a deep breath pumping up his chest and gets into a position as if he's about to fight a struggling battle.
"Pure Nexus: A Link Between - Finality!"
(Zeon)
Zeon tries to open up the always existing link to the Cloud and is met by a resisting push. The Armageddon Paradox is resisting the realm in which everything exists all at once. But the realm of everything processes that this paradox is a part of nothing and doesn't exist since it's not meant to join. So another paradoxical battle ensues between joining and not joining the Cloud this however is very short lived and just requires Zeon to push open even a sliver of an opening to the Cloud because even something this is a contradiction to everything is still a part of everything. Which means that the slightest introduction to this realm assimilates whatever isn't meant to be and corrects it. Zeon breaks a sweat and seems a bit exhausted.
"Phew. That was a workout. Okay next time guys let's not disrupt the balance of being and not being."
(Zeon)
The correction of the paradox chain reacted to correcting the source. That being Sol and Toshi.
"WHAT?! MAYBE DON'T… FUCKING REWRITE PHYSICS????? YOU PUT THIS ON US?"
(Sol)
"Sol, did you not try to warn Toshi before he did it? Or am I mistaken? Maybe educate your guy on paradoxes better. Fundamental rule at our levels of power."
(Zeon)
"….. Then please enlighten me. What the hell were we meant to do? Just sit there and be metaphysical thought bubbles ???"
(Sol)
"No he's right, this is my fault. I should've just made the area around us to provide a physical form instead of just making our bodies exist in a place with no physics. But I just didn't think about the laws of paradoxes and assumed my plan would work."
(Toshi)
"Tch! Even if that's true this guy shouldn't have done something so over the top anyways."
(Sol)
"Perhaps. But it was simply meant to show the difference in our powers. I hope you realize now how farley outclassed you are in this battle. If not , I think I'll just go away. This is beginning to get boring and I'm starting to think that you don't even know how to get to Origin at all."
(Zeon)
The air stiffens as if someone was just found out or something disrupting a train of thought.
"Uh of course I know how to reach him. I'm just not revealing that information."
(Sol)
"Wait... this fight could've ended way earlier if you had said that right? So what are we doing…."
(Toshi)
Sol starts to nervously put his hand on the back of his head and tries to laugh everything away
"Haha of course not… this wasn't just me trying to beat the hell out of this guy."
(Sol)
"Dude your face is the biggest giveaway ever. Anyone can tell that you're lying."
(Toshi)
"Ah I see. I had an idea but I didn't want it to be true so I just went along with this whole fight and turns out it was all just a huge waste of time. Well I suppose that it was minor fun but I forgot what fun is."
(Zeon)
"Why do you always say edgy shit you're like very very lame just speak fucking normal."
(Sol)
"You really hate me huh. I'm not really sorry I killed your s-"
(Zeon)
Dramatically and turbulently the space around begins to quake and heat up with a powerful light as a shockwave claps
"Don't say a damn word about her you fucking freak or else I'll end everything along with you."
(Sol)
Sol in a blur has reached Zeon with a strong anger and hatred. Now there holding his blade to his neck all while giving a menacing death stare. Zeons skin begins to char.
"Heh. That's how it is, huh. Well I understand the lengths a man who lost it all would go to. So I won't push you further. But seeing you with such passionate hatred and such will to destroy kinda pisses me off. Because when I do that it doesn't matter, when I do it my reasons are invalid, when I hate Origin for the heinous things he has done to me repeatedly I'm not allowed to rage. In fact you're disgusted with me doing that. Why is that? Tell me why am I not allowed to have something irreplaceable."
(Zeon)
"Yours was replaceable. SHE WASN'T! THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER AND YOU STOLE THAT FROM US. FROM HER. ALL BECAUSE OF SO-"
(Sol)
Holy crap such….. malicious aura…. I- don't even know how to describe it. This is terrifying. I think I might have to sit the rest of this one out. That is quite damn scary.
"Heh heh. Excuse me? Replaceable? Is that what you said? I knew all of you were trash. So called "gods". To think that very being that created me would subject me to such things and not have any sadness. How does such an intelligent being not understand the concept of equivalent exchange? He took so I took. I could very easily end this entire world with just a snap. But THEY won't allow me. How lucky you are, little sun, your life doesn't end here today. I would have been delighted to send you to your sister but it seems as if IT has greater plans for you. But word of advice. If you ever degrade, dehumanize, disregard and write off any of what I had I will also end absolutely everything. Let's come to an agreement to not mention each other's soft topics. And Toshi I will show you an equivalent to what I have endured to show you where my hatred stems from and I will also show you an equivalent to what he has experienced there. You should make your choice in what you stand with but I'll have to erase your memory."
(Zeon)
"I- don't really understand but if it stops this chill please hurry."
(Toshi)
"Huh? Oh right, sorry. I didn't realize how angry I got and my inner aura spilled out. I'm always having to withhold all of it. I guess 1% of it got out. My bad."
(Zeon)
"1%?!! He's holding in that much hatred?? What exactly has the Origin guy done?"
(Toshi thinking)
"Okay, are you ready? What I'm about to show you is an equivalent to what I have gone through but it's tailored to the people who you have known. All of it will hit you at once."
(Zeon)
"Alright. Got it. I'm ready…"
(Toshi)
...…..
"That guy is still out of commission? Uh I'm holding my hand and pointing it towards him. True Nexus: Something Irreplaceable."
(Zeon)
"Hmm how would I narrate this? I don't have omniscient insight like he does. Oh I know! In a wave countless experiences flushed throughout Young Mori Toshi's mind and when he came to ...."
(Zeon narrating)
".... Erase my memory."
(Toshi)
"BUT YOU DIDN'T EVEN SE-"
(Sol)
"Mori Toshi glares at the young sun menacingly and with a sense of betrayal."
(Zeon narrating)
"Don't speak to me. I'm honestly ashamed that you support this I expected better. It doesn't matter what happened to you, nothing can top what I just saw."
(Toshi)
"Ah well that's not really fair, it's only right to see both sides. So without further ado….. True Nexus: Someone Else Something Irreplaceable."
(Zeon)
"Zeon again points his hand and uses a skill on young Mori Toshi. This time with experiences relating to Young Sun's grief. Which side will young Toshi choose? Find out next time on…. Ah I'm just messing with you he's back."
(Zeon narrating)
"Hmm I see both really bad. I suppose I can understand Sol's disregard but it's not really that solid. Again erasing my memory I'm finding it very hard to not think of these as real things that happened to me. And these are very terrible things for me to see. I stand fully with Zeon and I'm not sorry."
(Toshi)
"But… *sigh* okay then I suppose I can respect your choice. Only because your mind is going to be erased though."
(Sol)
"So we have reached a decision I see. I hope this makes you realize something, little sun. Okay time to turn you back to normal young Toshi. Pure Nexus: Coping with the irreplaceable."
(Zeon)
"Zeon erases the memories of the experiences that himself and Little Sun have had. After that Toshi comes back with a confused face."
(Zeon narrating)
"Um, did you do anything? I don't really feel anything. Oh wait it's a memory erasure of course that's the case. Well then how did it go?"
(Toshi)
"It would defeat the purpose of erasing your memory if we just told you."
(Zeon)
"Oh true. Anyways, what's going to happen now? Are you just going to leave? That quickly after just popping up and making a scene?"
(Toshi)
"Uh…. Yeah. There's no point in playing with food so I'll just wait until my time comes to get to Origin. Besides, you have bigger things to worry about. Why stress about me, especially since you'll never beat me ever."
(Zeon)
"I wouldn't say that so soon. You know more than me that this one has a lot of potential. His power can develop to an inconceivable extent. You witnessed his genius in this battle."
(Sol)
"You're right indeed I did witness a showing of brilliance but I also witnessed him almost destroying the omniverse by accident. With that being said see ya!"
(Zeon)
"Zeon puts back on the cloak he had and walks away. In a blink of an eye he vanished."
(Zeon narrating)
"That guy... is really infuriating…."
(Sol)
"Wow this has all been an eye opening experience for me. I thought I could never be beat and that my power can break down anything and anyone. But to think I would find that there's an entire legion of people stronger than me in a single day. This is why I love life. Haha, I can't wait to tell my wives about this. Speaking of when will this time stop going away…. Sol? Where the hell did he go?"
(Toshi)
Sorry about that everyone I'm back….. I was waiting for that guy to go away. I can't believe he took over my job. Ahem! Toshi sees a glimmering piece of light in the sky and heads towards it and touches it. Suddenly he can hear the voice of a friend.
"Hey Toshi. Sorry I can't stay there longer, the time stop will end soon and my presence can't be known. I highly suggest you rehide yours also. Anyways I wanted to tell you that there's some people that need your help and I think you have already met them. I'm sure you all will get along. See you soon, maybe next time we meet you'll be strong enough to be on my level but that's probably never ahahaha."
(Sol)
"YOU JUST GOT YOUR ASS BEAT HOW ABOUT YOU REFLECT INSTEAD OF GLOATING YOU DUNCE!!"
(Ten)
"OUCH! What the hell Ten!"
(Sol)
The message stops abruptly and Toshi is left looking bewildered
"I don't even know what to say… those two. Ahhh I know what to do though. I HAVE TO GET BACK INTO MY BODY AND FINISH MY BUSINESS BEFORE I FALL ON THE FLOOR DOING IT!!!!"
(Toshi)
Mori Toshi bolts at full speed back to his apartment