Layers upon layers of illusory murmurs echoed through the grand palace as a vortex of dark golden mist engulfed the entire hall, rendering time meaningless within its bounds.
Suddenly, the mist-shrouded dome was pierced by countless translucent, slippery tentacles. A swirling mass of transparent worms coalesced, forming a towering figure composed of writhing tendrils and squirming serpents that gazed down upon the dark golden vortex below. Sensing its presence, the vortex stirred, and at its center, a faint human silhouette gradually took shape.
"An intriguing soul—an unforeseen variable," the overlapping, dreamlike voice echoed. "Pity it lacks even a trace of divinity. By the epoch's end, it still won't succeed. The Original Creator's imprint within a Sephirot cannot be eroded by time alone."
As the murmurs lingered, a tentacle adorned with twisted, arcane patterns pierced through the void. A shrill, unwilling shriek followed as the appendage withdrew, clutching a pulsating, chaos-hued eyeball and a crystalline shard etched with distorted symbols. Both were drawn back to the figure of worms and tentacles.
"Truly worthy of the Omniscient and Omnipotent—foreseeing my arrival. No matter. This variable may remain. Let us see if the future grows more… entertaining."
The tentacle descended in an instant, embedding the eyeball into the apex of the towering throne atop the nine stone steps. Ripples of chaotic light burst from its core, merging with the dark golden vortex amid unspeakable howls. The crystalline shard fused with the mist, solidifying into a translucent, cubic tome that clattered to the floor below the throne. Meanwhile, the slick, rune-carved tentacle severed itself, absorbing surrounding mist to form an ancient silver-gray ring that landed beside the tome. Chaos and silver-gray pulsed in opposition, locked in silent conflict.
"The remnant imprints within the 'Chaos Uniqueness'—tainted by the Son of Chaos's infiltration of the Primordial Barrier—will suffice to erode the Original Creator's Mark in this Sephirot. With this, Chaos shall obediently serve as my wick. Now, to seal the remaining Sephirot…"
The layered murmurs faded as the vortex of transparent worms dissolved into nothingness.
Within the dark golden vortex upon the throne, the mist-formed figure shuddered, then dispersed. The vortex convulsed once before settling into stillness.
——
The murmuring and screeching echoed in Ren Yu's consciousness, accompanied by bizarre, surreal visions.
Beneath the grand palace, a flickering point of condensed dark golden mist pulsed rhythmically, emitting waves of prayer:
"You are the Emperor who reigns over the mortal realm;"
"You are the Sovereign who rules the boundless earth;"
"You are the Shadow cloaked in Order's guise..."
The—threefold honorifics—pierced through the cacophony of murmurs and screams. Though the language was foreign, their meaning seared into Ren Yu's mind. Like a man jolted from a nightmare, his muddled awareness snapped into clarity.
Within the vortex atop the throne—now adorned with a chaos-eyed orb—a figure solidified. Ren Yu massaged his temples and exhaled. "How long have I been asleep? If not for the Celestial Worthy's later intervention, I'd have been assimilated by the imprints. And these prayers… they pulled me back."
"Threefold divine epithets—'Emperor of the Mortal Realm,' 'Sovereign of the Boundless Earth,' 'Shadow of Order.' This aligns with the Black Emperor pathway. Has someone ascended? Solomon… or my 'fellow transmigrator,' Huang Tao—Roselle Gustav?"
Ren Yu looked down at the pulsing dark-gold speck of light below and gritted his teeth as he extended his consciousness toward it.
——
A grand black mausoleum stood proudly, exuding overwhelming majesty. Strange letters and symbols were engraved all around it, radiating unspeakable awe and distortion. Atop the mausoleum stood a solemn figure clad in black armor, crowned with a dark crown. Around the mausoleum, countless humans knelt in reverence.
Ren Yu instantly severed the connection. The pulsing dark-gold mist below immediately stabilized. The layered prayers gradually faded, while the murmurs and screeches grew stronger.
"Thank goodness I was cautious and cut the link in time—otherwise, who knows what might have happened…" Ren Yu frowned, forcibly suppressing the murmurs and screeches. He whispered from the throne, "A Black Emperor's godhood ritual. As the Sephirot linked to the Black Emperor and Justiciar pathways, my partial control over the Nation of Disorder lets me sense such prayers. Lucky I lack beyonder characteristics despite my rank—exposure would've meant death."
"There were no steam creations around the massive mausoleum, and the Black Emperor wasn't clashing with any other deities. If it were my countryman Huang Tao—Rossell Gustav—he'd definitely be getting thrashed by the Eternal Blazing Sun and the God of Steam and Machinery. So, it must be Emperor Solomon. That means this is right after the chaos of the Fourth Epoch, the time when Solomon attained Black Emperorhood and founded the First Solomon Empire."
"No wonder I could barely resist falling back asleep after being awakened. The outside world has already reached the Fourth Epoch. The spiritual imprint left by the Original Creator within the Nation of Disorder has significantly faded. The Outer God's imprint in the Chaos uniqueness has also worn down after three epochs of conflict."
Ren Yu glanced at the chaos-eyed orb embedded in the throne. "The Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth, Dominator of the Spirit World, Lord of the Mysteries—how generous. Seems I wasn't sealed in the Western Continent with the Sephirot. But what's the price? Assisting His revival? Was 'God Almighty's' goal the same?"
"Was I lucky or unlucky to have just transmigrated and immediately encounter the ultimate bosses? Two Old Ones on the level of Pillars—just barging into my home like it's nothing."
Ren Yu couldn't help but raise his hand to his forehead and mentally rant.
"This Chaos Uniqueness must belong to the Son of Chaos, the future 'Sealed Artifact 0-05'—the Genie in the Lamp. With its Uniqueness stripped by Lord of Mysteries, does it even deserve that ranking anymore? That the Nation of Disorder can harbor it confirms this Outer God's pathway aligns with Justiciar and Black Emperor sequences."
"Unfortunately, it's still only the Fourth Epoch. The Primordial and the Outer God's spiritual imprints haven't been completely wiped away. I hope I can keep up with the tide of this era. Now that I've come to the world of Mysteries, I must correct the regrets of the original story and ascend to godhood."
"But it's still the Fourth Epoch. The Primordial and the Outer God's imprints linger. If I'm to ride the tide of this era, mend regrets, and claim divinity… I must act before time runs out."
Faint whispers melded into the growing cacophony within the hall. Yet this time, the figure upon the throne didn't dissipate—it grew ever more tangible. The dark golden mist expanded outward from the grotesque double-spired palace, its rhythm like a heartbeat. Above the throne, the chaos-eyed orb flickered, alternating between gold and abyssal hues.