Chapter 117 — "The Toy of Nothingness"
Vael was still smiling — a smile so arrogant it could have started a war on its own.
— Feeling nauseous, Zarion? Or… are you just jealous of my toy?
Zarion exhaled, eyes rolling skyward.
— Spare me your delusions. I don't need toys.
But admit it… you never intended to help him, did you?
Vael raised a finger, as if about to proclaim some grand cosmic truth.
— I crossed ALL this distance to save MY toy… and you think I wasn't sincere?
If I weren't, I'd have just asked Death to do the job for me.
I left my Palace of Nothingness, walked through your noisy, bright world, endured the smell…
I call that effort.
Zarion narrowed his eyes.
— Fine… you're sincere.
But somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better.
Vael's smile vanished for a moment. A heavy silence fell.
Then he placed a hand on Zarion's shoulder.
The pressure of the void made the air tremble.
And in a voice so cold it could extinguish a sun, he whispered:
— Never compare that wretch to me again.
Understood?
Zarion shivered despite himself.
Vael continued, his tone still soft but razor-sharp:
— Just because he couldn't defeat you with Oblivion…
doesn't mean I couldn't erase you in a blink.
And you can call your parents, your grandparents, your dog, your entire bloodline —
they too would taste Nothingness before me.
Zarion stepped back slightly.
— Okay. Message received.
Vael vanished and reappeared before Ivan, who was still kneeling, trembling.
— Master Vael! You're here! Help me!
The multicolored gaze of the God of Nothingness fell on him.
A gaze… empty.
No affection.
No anger.
Just… absolute indifference.
Zarion exclaimed:
— Wait. You're not seriously going to—
Too late.
Vael placed a hand on Ivan's throat.
— I gave you a fragment of my power… and you were so weak, you nearly got consumed by it.
So I think I can do without you.
Ivan's eyes widened.
A ray of oblivion burst from Vael's gaze.
Ivan screamed.
— NO! Master Vael! You said you didn't want anything from me!
Vael burst into a laugh so joyful it was terrifying.
— Of course not.
I just wanted to test something. Hahaha.
Ivan was erased.
Clean.
No trace.
No echo.
The silence that followed could have killed the dead.
Vael patted Zarion's shoulder as if nothing had happened.
— Bye bye, dear Prince.
And he vanished.
---
Back at HQ
Zarion reappeared at HQ, still a little pale.
Nova rushed over.
— You're back! Looks like you made it out okay… well, on the surface.
Zarion nodded.
— Yeah. I'm going to take a bath. After that, I'll talk to Liora.
And… we'll see if we need an emergency meeting or an exorcism of HQ. I'm not sure yet.
Nova blinked.
— So it was really that bad, huh?
Zarion replied while walking:
— If you only knew the pressure I felt…
It was like he could erase me with a snap of his fingers.
And I'm being generous.
---
In the Palace of Nothingness
The Palace of Nothingness pulsed like a sick cosmic heart.
Vael sat on his throne, stretching his fingers like a pianist who had just completed an artistic massacre.
Death appeared behind him, arms crossed.
— I knew you had something planned. But to erase him like that…
You could've let him die to Zarion. Why bring him back… just to erase him?
Vael chuckled softly.
— What can I say?
He was too weak.
Death sighed.
— You said you didn't want anything from him.
So his level shouldn't have bothered you.
Vael smiled — a smile that could make a demon tremble.
— Did you REALLY believe… I brought him back to be nice?
Valt, leaning against the wall, looked up.
— Let's be honest: we've known from the start you were planning something.
Vael shrugged.
— Exactly. So it doesn't bother you, right?
Nyxa, her voice soft but dangerous, replied:
— Erasing things doesn't bother us.
But breaking someone's hope just for fun…
That's different.
Vael turned his throne toward them, his eyes glowing with infinite black.
— Then let's have even more fun.
Even Nothingness shivered.
Chapter 118 — "Nihility Awakened"
Death narrowed her eyes, arms crossed.
— More fun? And how exactly do you plan to do that?
Vael leaned forward slightly on his throne, looking proud — like a child who just invented a new way to destroy a universe.
— You know me well. When I want to have fun… I summon one of my creations.
Nihil.
The absolute projection of negative energy, null energy, the incarnation of Nihility.
Valt blinked.
— You're not seriously telling me you created the very concept of null energy, negative energy… and Nihility? Those are literally fundamental laws.
Vael raised his hands, as if it was so obvious he couldn't understand why anyone would even ask.
— Well yeah. What did you think?
Want me to call him? I can bring him in right now. He loves dramatic entrances.
Nyxa sighed.
— You mean that guy who acts like the protagonist of some edgy anime? The one who poses in shadows like "I am the night, I am suffering, I am oblivion"?
Death growled.
— I don't like him. He's too pretentious.
Nyxa shrugged.
— For once, we agree on something…
Valt frowned.
— I don't know him.
Nyxa tilted her head.
— That's normal. He's a pile of fossils. An old relic.
Valt's eyes widened.
— Wait. If he's old, and YOU know him, that means you're old too.
A deadly silence.
Nyxa smiled. The kind of smile you see right before a natural disaster.
— Say that again. I'll kill you.
Valt raised his arms.
— Oooh, I'm scared.
Death pinched the bridge of her nose.
— Anyway. Why do you want to bring him here, Vael?
Vael turned his throne slightly toward Valt, his gaze becoming cruel and amused at once.
— Don't you want Aeternus to pay for what he said to you?
Valt's eyes changed instantly.
Red.
Star-shaped irises.
He slowly materialized his Nexus blade, a feral grin stretching across his face.
— Of course I do.
Vael raised a hand to calm the murderous excitement.
— No need to warm up.
Nihil will take care of it for you.
He snapped his fingers.
The Nothingness trembled.
A black-and-white vortex opened at the center of the hall, warping the walls as if reality itself was melting.
A figure stepped out, a mischievous smile on his face.
Elegant black hair falling smoothly.
One eye entirely black.
The other entirely white.
— Greetings, Lord Vael.
How are you today?
Do you have a mission for me? Nihil asked in a soft yet disturbingly unsettling voice.
Nyxa instantly lunged, a kick aimed straight for his skull.
— I HATE YOUR FACE!
Nihil raised a hand and blocked the attack with a single finger.
The collision made the entire Palace of Nothingness tremble.
Then he pushed Nyxa away as if she weighed two grams.
Nyxa slid across the floor, planted her hand to stop, and stood back up.
— Still got good reflexes, you bastard…
Nihil smiled even wider, his eyes glowing with an eerie calm.
Vael stood.
— So. You know Aeternus, the Architect, right?
Nihil tilted his head.
— Of course. You want me to exterminate him?
Just a reminder — the King of Architects is quite fond of him.
Vael shrugged.
— So what? I don't care. Just deal with him.
— As you wish, Lord Vael, Nihil replied with a flawless bow.
Valt stepped closer, his aura flaring.
— Could you give him a truly atrocious death for me?
The kind that makes concepts cry?
Nihil raised an eyebrow.
— I don't like taking orders from anyone but Vael.
But I'll make an exception…
Besides, I was already planning to give him an atrocious death.
His smile stretched until it was almost… inhuman.
The Palace of Nothingness shuddered.
Even Death had to admit she didn't like that smile.
Vael sat back on his throne, satisfied.
— Very well.
Let the show begin.
Chapter 119 — "Nihility Collapse"
Nihil vanished.
Then reappeared…
In front of Aeternus.
Inside his own palace.
A crushing pressure filled the room.
The walls trembled.
The floor cracked.
Even the celestial pillars seemed to bend under Nihil's aura.
Aeternus saw a smile.
Not a human smile.
A grotesque one.
A smile that seemed to want to devour reality itself.
Nihil, in an almost cheerful tone:
> "Hello, Aeternus. How are you today?"
Aeternus, expression closed, emotionless:
> "Who are you?"
Nihil, still smiling:
> "Allow me to introduce myself: Nihil.
His Lordship Vael sent me to take care of you.
With… care."
Aeternus, releasing part of his aura:
> "And you're not afraid of retaliation from the King of Architects?"
Nihil's smile widened to the absurd:
> "Of course not.
And between us… I don't even know why Death didn't erase you that day.
Well… I suppose Vael didn't ask her to."
Aeternus, eyes glowing:
> "Know this — I won't go down easily."
Nihil:
> "Perfect.
I was asked to give you one of the most atrocious deaths imaginable.
Your biggest mistake… was not staying in the Realm of Architects.
But hey. Too late."
He vanished.
Then reappeared behind Aeternus:
> "I'm going to kill you slowly.
So you feel every second of suffering.
Just as I was instructed."
He raised his hand.
A strike, charged with negative energy — so powerful it could annihilate structures, concepts, laws.
The blow hit Aeternus squarely.
He was hurled through his own throne.
Aeternus stopped himself by planting his hand into the ground.
He spat blood:
> "I felt… my existence… like it was about to be vaporized."
He leapt, summoned a spear of pure energy, and struck.
But upon contact with Nihil…
His arm and the spear vanished.
Aeternus screamed, clutching the stump:
> "Aaaah!"
Nihil, approaching slowly:
> "This is just the beginning.
And trust me… you will suffer."
He kicked him.
Aeternus was slammed into a dimensional wall, writhing in pain.
Nihil stepped forward, touched his other arm.
It vanished instantly.
Aeternus screamed.
Nihil grabbed him by the hair, lifted him, and kneed him in the face.
The impact shook the palace's structure.
A smile that made creation tremble spread across Nihil's face.
A smile that could make a god weep.
He lifted Aeternus with one hand.
Then, with a simple flick of his finger…
Aeternus's legs disappeared.
He let him fall.
Crawling on the ground like a serpent.
Nihil, leaning over him:
> "Look at you.
Squirming like a worm.
It's… very satisfying to watch."
He extended his hand:
> "Nihility Collapse."
The palace…
And Aeternus…
Were annihilated.
Not destroyed.
Erased.
As if they had never existed.
---
### 🕳️ In the Void
Nihil floated in the void.
He took a few steps in the silent nothingness.
Then returned to Vael in the Palace of Nothingness.
> "Vael. Are you satisfied?"
Vael, seated on a throne made of oblivion, smiled:
> "Of course I am.
Watching him squirm…
It makes me feel better.
Almost alive."
Valt stepped forward, his voice calm but charged:
> "Thank you, Nihil.
Thanks to you, I got my revenge.
It was satisfying to see him agonize like that."
Nyxa, standing beside Death, watched the scene.
She murmured:
> "Look at these lunatics…
They're happy about traumatizing and erasing someone.
And I'm supposed to stay calm?"
Death, impassive:
> "You'll get used to it.
Or you'll end up like Aeternus.
Erased.
But with style."
Nyxa sighed:
> "This group is a cosmic sitcom.
But nightmare edition."
Chapter 120 — "The King Rises"
In the Realm of Architects, at the summit of the highest stratum — where even light dared not vibrate too loudly — sat the King of Architects.
A tall figure, a crown upon his head, long white hair cascading down to his lower back, tied with a golden ribbon. A few strands fell before his face, hiding his eyes… but not the devastating rage rumbling behind them.
Before him, a massive screen of architectural essence displayed the final moments of Aeternus — crushed, annihilated, reduced to a bitter memory by Nihil.
The King barely moved, yet his mere breath made the Pillars of Creation tremble, as if existence itself feared being accidentally erased.
Then, his voice fell like a cosmic verdict:
— Vael… is he trying to provoke me?
He knew I cared for Aeternus. And he still let him be massacred… like that.
He rose slowly. A white gleam passed beneath his hair.
— …That fills me with fury.
His aura exploded.
Layers of reality vibrated. The entire Realm groaned like a wounded organism. Even the fundamental laws took a few imaginary steps back.
---
Aedrys Appears
A figure stepped calmly into the room: Aedrys, Architect of Stories and Narratives.
White hair as well, but short. Golden eyes shaped like liquid ink.
Capable of rewriting stories. Of making and unmaking tales. Of correcting narrative errors in the universe like fixing a typo.
He placed a spectral book on his palm.
— Calm down, Father. Or "my King," if you prefer.
You know Vael… He only does what amuses him.
The King clenched his jaw.
— I know. But we've given him too much freedom.
---
Kaeron Intervenes
A swirl of black and white light twisted, and a man with black hair streaked with spiral white highlights appeared: Kaeron, Architect of Balance.
Black sclera, white pupils.
His very presence made reality seem to catch its breath around him.
— Aedrys is right, Father. You must calm yourself.
Your rage alone could shatter entire strata.
The King inhaled deeply. His aura receded… slightly.
— Very well. But we cannot let him do as he pleases.
---
Arrival of Erwin and Erik
Erwin entered, his black-and-white hair floating like it was underwater, golden eyes gleaming. Architect of Realities.
— It's true that Vael cannot continue unchecked, he said.
But he's far too dangerous for us to act without thought.
Then Erik, the Architect of the End, fixed his black gaze forward.
— We cannot remain passive. We've already lost several incarnated concepts.
Our numbers are dwindling… and he continues as if nothing matters.
---
**The King Reasserts Control**
The King sighed, placing his hand on the screen showing Aeternus's ashes.
— You are Singularities, not your true forms.
You're not so easily destroyed…
Erik interrupted — a rare boldness.
— Against Vael? Are you joking?
If he touches our projection, he could affect our true selves.
No one knows the exact limit of his power.
Erwin added:
— Even I can't analyze the structure of his strength. It's… troubling.
The King closed his eyes… then let out a dry laugh.
Not amused. Not joyful.
A laugh that said, "I've just decided someone's death."
— Then we agree… It's risky.
He opened his eyes.
Two white stars burned beneath his bangs.
— But Vael is provoking me on purpose.
He wants to see how far he can push before I lose patience.
A silence fell.
Heavy. Cosmic.
Then the words dropped, sharp as blades:
— Vael… I will make you pay.
For what you did to Aeternus…
For what you've done for eons.
He rose from his throne.
Each step rewrote the space beneath his feet.
Then he declared, his voice echoing through the entire Realm:
— I, Aeternus, King of Architects…
I'm coming. Prepare your Nothingness.
Because I'm coming for you personally.
A white fissure split the sky.
And even the fundamental laws shivered.