"Construct a real and complete world!"
When he had first seen this requirement for the ritual, Edward had felt it was absurd. But because he had been in a hurry to go find Lilith, he had neither the time nor the mood to think deeply about it. Now that he recalled it again, a chill suddenly ran down his spine.
What did it mean to "construct a real and complete world"?
Wasn't that the same as…creating a world?
In that case, did the Harry Potter world…count?
Wasn't the Harry Potter world itself a "constructed" real and complete world?
"What on earth is going on?"
From the Uniqueness of the Door Pathway, which should have belonged to someone else, appearing inside his body, to a godlike power such as creating a world becoming his Sequence 1 advancement ritual…everything was getting more and more like he had picked up someone else's script and was walking along a road that some person had arranged for Themself.
But if that were really the case, when he had just "met" that person earlier, why had He done nothing?
Seeing everything He had prepared being monopolised by someone else—whether deliberately or by accident—was something absolutely intolerable, right? Yet He had not done anything at all; instead, He had acted like a riddler, speaking only in enigmas, all to avoid affecting the future—and also to ensure that the current future would come to pass.
Could it be that everything happening to him had been part of the other party's plan from the very beginning?
"Edward, are you worried?"
Lilith shook his wrist gently, looking at him with concern.
Edward lowered his eyes and shook his head. "Rather than worry, it's more like…doubt. Every time I think I'm about to solve the puzzle and learn the truth, I find there are even more puzzles waiting behind it."
"Mmm, in that case, instead of the two of us getting a headache over this alone, why don't we let someone else share the trouble with us?"
"Hm?"
She narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Tell Amanises and Adam what you've seen and what you know—selectively, of course! Isn't this exactly what they want to know?"
"…"
Edward thought for a moment, then gave her a thumbs-up. "Good idea."
———
In the Astral World, an endless expanse of tranquil darkness stretched out, carpeted with Moon Flowers, Night Vanilla, and other such plants. Edward and Lilith stepped through a phantom door and arrived in this silent domain.
As soon as they walked out of the door, they saw, not far away, a woman standing quietly in the sea of flowers. She wore a layered yet unpretentious jet-black dress studded with countless specks of radiance. Her features were hazy yet exceptionally beautiful.
"Your Grace…"
Edward bent slightly at the waist and was just about to bow when Lilith waved her hand and walked straight over.
"Long time no see, Amanises."
"…"
Edward froze awkwardly on the spot, not knowing whether he should continue with his salute or not.
"Didn't we just meet not too long ago?"
Evernight Goddess looked at Lilith, the corners of Her lips lifting in a faint smile.
Lilith waved her hand dismissively. "That doesn't count. I mean seeing your true body."
"That has indeed been a very long time," the Evernight Goddess replied serenely as She gazed at her. "It seems you have finally fulfilled your wish and truly resurrected."
Lilith gave a proud little smile. "That's right~ All thanks to Edward appearing at the critical moment to help me!"
"Mhm." Evernight Goddess nodded. "He went through quite a lot of trouble to reach the Mirror World."
As She said this, She turned Her gaze toward Edward. "You seem to be on the verge of dying."
"…"
Her words were like the blunt truth that exposed the emperor's new clothes, and also like Tom Cat, who had been running in midair, suddenly looking down. In an instant, the façade Edward had been maintaining nearly collapsed.
He forced a smile. "It's fine. I can still hold on."
The Evernight Goddess asked again, "You…have already been there?"
"Yes."
Under Lilith's concerned gaze, Edward took a deep breath. "Your Grace, did you know from the very beginning that 'that thing' was in the Chaos Sea?"
"No."
Her tone was light. "I only had a vague suspicion and could not be certain. What did you see there?"
Edward said slowly, "The River of Eternal Darkness."
The Evernight Goddess did not seem surprised at all and asked again, "And what else?"
"A mass of golden light, but I couldn't see what was inside it."
She looked at him quietly for a while. "I understand."
Lilith raised a brow. "Understand what?"
The Goddess of the Night smiled and said, "I understand now what that person intended to do when He took away the River of Eternal Darkness. And I also understand that I won't be able to obtain the River of Eternal Darkness anytime soon."
Lilith puffed out her cheeks and huffed. "You know Miss Lilith isn't clever enough. Say it a bit more plainly."
The Goddess thought for a moment, then said, "The Chaos Sea governs creation and represents new life. The River of Eternal Darkness governs endings and represents destruction. Only—when there is a beginning and an end, life and death, creation and annihilation—can balance be achieved. Only then can the entire world operate normally."
As She spoke, She blinked. "Explained like this, you can understand, right?"
Edward's expression shifted thoughtfully. "So that's how it is!"
Lilith scratched her head. "Eh?"
"The Ancient…True Creator told me that that person did all of this to oppose the Oldest One. But His current actions look more like He is playing the role of the Oldest One. Your Grace, do you know why?"
"Perhaps He really is playing the role of the Oldest One," the Evernight Goddess said.
"But wouldn't that make the Oldest One awaken even faster?"
"Then, in all your previous acts of playing roles, weren't you also doing your best to bring yourself as close as possible to the current Sequence? Yet you knew very well that you were only playing a role." The Evernight Goddess smiled faintly. "This is the most fundamental logic of this world. Even the Oldest One that created everything must obey it."
"It's just that, for most people, during the process of playing that role, they are quickly devoured by the Oldest One's consciousness and become a part of It—just like the Celestial Worthy's consciousness within the Lord of Mysteries Group and the Primordial One's consciousness within God Almighty Group."
At this moment, the Evernight Goddess seemed nothing like a deity who wielded supreme power. Her tone was gentle. "Perhaps that person has His own unique method of resisting the Oldest One's consciousness."
Edward asked again, "So Your Grace doesn't plan to do anything at all?"
"What could I possibly do?" She replied. "Adam, however, should try to do something. You must be careful."
She let out a soft laugh. "Besides, rather than worrying about these matters, I think you should first consider yourself. You ought to have some understanding of your current condition, yes?"
Lilith immediately caught the key phrase and hurriedly asked, "Amanises, do you have any way to help Edward?"
"No."
The Evernight Goddess answered without the slightest hesitation. "In his current state, he must have been cursed by Death and branded by the concept of Death. If I had already fused the three major Pathways and the River of Eternal Darkness, it wouldn't be difficult to resolve. But as things stand…I can do nothing."
"You mean the problem with me is related to the River of Eternal Darkness?"
"More or less."
Edward's heart jolted. Could it be that the reversal power of Madman to the Right originates from the Chaos Sea and the River of Eternal Darkness?
Creation and destruction—
If one wished to gain something, one would lose something—
This was how balance was formed.
No wonder the drain of life brought about by [Madman on the Right] could only be slowly offset by Sefirah Castle—because only a Sefirot could counter another Sefirot.
Lilith hurriedly looked toward Edward. "Edward, have you really found a way to solve it? You're really not lying to me?"
"Mhm!"
Edward allowed a faint smile to appear on his face. "Don't worry. I won't gamble with my own life."
"Your Grace..."
Edward's expression turned solemn. "I may have to enter a slumber for a period next. But after some time, I might need your help to conceal certain things."
Lilith grabbed his hand. "You're going to sleep? Why?"
"Lilith, this is the method I've thought of to fight against Death." He patted her small hand. "Don't worry. When the time comes, I'll be accompanying you in another form."
The Evernight Goddess asked at this moment, "Oh? What do you intend to do?"
"I just want to make some preparations in advance for my eventual awakening while I'm asleep. It won't affect you in any way. In addition, I want to try making a few changes."
She smiled faintly. "All right, no problem."
———
By the time he returned home once more, Edward's condition had deteriorated drastically.
Originally, the loss of his life force would take at least three days to bring about a single death. But his recent time in the Chaos Sea, along with his battle against the Abomination Suah, had greatly accelerated the arrival of death.
His trip just now to the Evernight Goddess's divine kingdom in the Astral World had been him merely holding on by sheer will. Even though the Goddess had exposed him with a single sentence, he had still relied on what little spirituality he had left and used [Fantasy] to keep himself in a relatively stable state for as long as possible.
But now—
He could no longer hold on.
He could no longer stop death from arriving.
Edward collapsed weakly onto the sofa. He felt as though he had been exhausted for far too long without sleep, his eyelids irresistibly wanting to close.
Lilith gripped his hand tightly, her petite face full of heartache and worry. She opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing—at this moment, she had no idea what she could say.
The price brought about by [Madman on the Right] was already an established fact that no one could change. Edward was destined to head into death again and again as his life force ebbed away, only to resurrect repeatedly thanks to his own special abilities.
Until, one day, everyone's memories of him faded and they completely forgot his existence; at that time, when he could no longer resurrect, he would step into true death.
"Don't worry, Lilith."
Edward weakly brushed his fingers against her cheek. "I've already found a method to fight death. The price is nothing more than a period of slumber."
Lilith gave him a gentle push. "Then…then hurry up and go to sleep."
Although, after being separated for several thousand years, they had only reunited for a few days before they now had to part again, Lilith's heart was full of boundless reluctance. Even so, she still urged him, "When you wake up, Audrey, Klein, Priscilla, everyone…we'll all be here."
"Mm."
Edward forced a smile. "I know, I know. But I don't want to rush into sleep just yet. I plan to experience death a few more times and use this period to gather as much 'imagination' as I can. I…I still have a few things I need to do."
Lilith said anxiously, "Is there anything more important than you yourself? Besides, if there's something, you can tell me and I'll help you accomplish it."
"I will. There will be things I'll need your help with, Lilith," Edward said. "What I'm going to do is precisely so that you'll be able to help me better."
Lilith furrowed her brows. "What are you going to do?"
"Cough, cough, cough…"
Edward coughed violently several times before forcing out his words with difficulty. "I'm going to…use Fantasy to create another me—a true avatar, just like Amon's—and let him take my place…during the period of my slumber, helping me gather as much 'imagination' as possible, helping me…complete the role of the Fantasist."
———
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