Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint - Ch. 314
I am not a prophet.
I can only read human thoughts, but I cannot predict how they will act in the future.****Still, was I truly ignorant?
“Set, Re!”
Months have passed since we fell into Tantalus.
In the darkness where no light reached, we had to rely on each other just to survive.
In such isolation, where contact was frequent, even non-existent bonds were naturally formed.Moreover, love was an emotion that supported the preservation of the species, and it became stronger when men and women had little choice but to rely on each other.
Beta and Delta were such cases.Well, to cut the long explanation short…
“FAHRENHEITTTT!”
In the end, Delta loved Beta.
“WHYYYYY!”
Bang.
The flames spiraled from the muzzle of the magic-infused gun.
It wasn’t a magic bullet per se, just a bullet ignited by magical power.
Still, the intent to attack was clearly conveyed, far more than just visually.Amid the gunshots, Delta shouted.
“You cursed vampire! Did you have to kill her in such a horrific way? To you, Cindy was less than a bug! You could have just ignored her cries! YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO KILL HER LIKE THAT!!!”
Of course, the only things that reached were his intent and his words.
If the Progenitor could be harmed by Delta’s attack, she wouldn’t have remained a symbol of terror for over a thousand years.The bullets were swallowed into the darkness.
The Progenitor finally acknowledged Delta’s existence and responded.
[Cindy? Ah.]
The coffin opened slightly, and through the gap, a pale hand reached out.
At the tips of the pale, bloodless fingers was a bloodstained cross.
It was Cindy’s.Holding the cross upside down, the Progenitor spoke coldly.
[Is that the speck of blood who dared to toy with the Sky God’s trinket before my presence?]“Cindyyyyy!”
Bang, bang, bang.Without even aiming, Delta fired his loaded gun wildly.
Before we could discuss whether it could cause any meaningful damage, the bullets didn’t even hit the coffin in the first place.But Delta didn’t care.
He knew from the start that this act was suicide.
He just couldn’t stop himself.
[As you said, no matter what you say, it is just a meaningless cry. No matter what you do, it is a meaningless gesture. I neither judge nor care about such insignificant insects.]
“Then, if you’re so strong, you could have shown some mercy!”
[But faith in the Sky God is different. That is an insult and blasphemy toward me. I have always exacted a price for that faith and I will continue to do so. If your faith is so strong, you should have no regrets dying for it.]
The bullets ran out.
Not that Delta had much faith in them in the first place.
He pointed his now-empty gun toward the coffin and slowly approached the coffin.
“Monster! You! You’re nothing but a monster!”
[I have heard that so many times that I’m not affected by such slander anymore.]
Delta’s emotions were swirling out of control.
Fear of death, anger surpassing that fear, love, loss, and a thirst for revenge—all these emotions stormed around in his heart.
I couldn’t even read them clearly.
But, filtering through it all, there was one distinct wish.
｢You should suffer too…!｣
That fleeting hope that sprouted at the bottom of Tantalus, the budding love that sprouted in the land’s absence of light.
I had kept an eye on it just in case, but to think it would lead to this.
｢I don’t expect to kill it. I just want this monster to feel even a fraction of the sadness and pain I’ve felt! If bullets can’t hurt its body, maybe I can hurt its heart!｣
Delta, that’s easier said than done.
Words are tools too.
Only someone who has used them often can wield them properly.
For someone like you, who can barely speak, that’s a tall order.
“Yeeaah! You’re great! You’re the mighty Progenitor! So go ahead, remain a monster forever, live as a monster until the end of time!”
I understood what he was trying to say.
That the Progenitor would remain alone for eternity, live as a monster until the end of the world, and die without ever knowing feelings or understanding.
If he had polished his words a little more, and if he had understood his opponent a bit better before speaking, perhaps he could have wounded the Progenitor’s small wish.
But Delta couldn’t reach that far.
[Your cries are meaningless too. Very well, if your lover was so precious I shall reunite you with her.]
The darkness enveloped Delta, lifting him off the ground.
At that moment, Delta realized he was going to die.
In truth, Delta had already committed suicide.
He had stepped off the cliff, and now, only the moment of impact remained.Though it had taken a while, the end had come.
The Progenitor continued.
[I hope you all make it to heaven. It will be a good thing for both of us since I will not be there.]
As the Progenitor’s not-quite-blessing rang in his ears, Delta struggled, not to live, but to accomplish something before he died.
｢I have to… I have to make it feel… even a little of the pain I felt…｣
As his consciousness dimmed, Delta wished fervently for the Progenitor’s suffering.
Even as blood engulfed his body, crushing his bones and tearing his flesh, he clung to that desire through the pain.
And so, the man who had been Elsie Clark for most of his life, and Delta in Tantalus, left behind only a faint echo as he died.He fell into Tantalus with grand ideals, and only after giving up his cause at the bottom did he find some small happiness.
Yet, in the end, he achieved nothing and died, forgotten within me.
It’s an absurd death.****A human, a mere beast… Even when they know such acts will cost them their life, they still throw them away for love, for ideals, for invisible things, for such fleeting notions.
Some may call it romantic and praise it, but to me, it just seems foolish.
However, I am the king of such fools.
I am the king of broken beasts who give up their lives for such fleeting dreams.
Ah. I really need to live normally.
[I have given you plenty of time. I have also shown you an example. Have you made your decision?]
The arrogant Progenitor declared.
Ah, such a pitiful thing. Having lived for so long you try to define yourself as a mere phenomenon.***Surely, your wish is to become human once more.**So why are you trying to become a god?***Is it that you long to be understood by everyone?
You are not a god.
At most, you are the King of Vampires, and even then, you don’t truly represent them either.
I spoke casually.
“Since those two just died, you should give me more. Save me too, and also protect my remaining comrades.”
[What a greedy human. Even my patience has its limits.]
“In return, I’ll make your heart beat again.”
The Progenitor flinched as if stabbed by something.
Meanwhile, I turned toward Finlay, who remained silent.
The Progenitor’s command was still in effect, so even as Delta died, Finlay couldn’t say a word.
｢Hahaha! Serves you right. This is how the food chain should be! Hahaha!｣
He kept his mouth shut, but his thoughts were as loud as ever.I grabbed the stake that had pierced Finlay earlier and the arm of the undying.
As I approached him with the stake, Finlay’s expression rapidly shifted.
｢A mere human can’t harm the Progenitor! Haha, this is how it should be… Wait, what is he doing? I can’t die from a stake while the Progenitor is here, can I?｣
“Set, Re, Volt.”
I drove the stake into Finlay’s heart and sent a current of electric magic through its end.
The electricity surged through the stake and into Finlay’s heart, causing his body to convulse uncontrollably.
｢Gahhh. What is this? It’s not dangerous, but it’s such an unpleasant attack…｣
It was a weak shock, not even enough to kill a human, so it wouldn’t affect a vampire.
Finlay was unharmed.
As he was about to ask the Progenitor for permission to kill me, I spoke.
“Did you feel it? Finlay’s heart responded.”
Of course, she had felt it.
Finlay was within the Progenitor’s domain and all the blood movement was exposed to her senses.
The Progenitor could read the movement of blood like the palm of her hand.The Progenitor didn’t respond.
Taking her silence as confirmation, I shrugged and explained.
“I’ve heard that vampires’ hearts don’t beat, that they move blood through their bodies using Bloodcraft. That’s impressive, but wouldn’t it be easier if your heart worked naturally? It’s annoying to control every little movement, isn’t it? My lightning might just make your heart beat again.”
｢What is he talking about? What is this mere human spouting about…! What are you up to, Hughes?!｣
Finally, there was a reaction.
The coffin lid opened, and an ephemeral girl, as if drained of color, raised her body.
The Progenitor, revealing herself for the first time in centuries, showed great interest in the new knowledge about the heart.
“Is it true? Can that really make my heart move?”
“Of course, my electricity might not work on you. After all, you are such a powerful being… However, it is known that the human heart moves in this way. If it’s the same principle, shouldn’t there be a reaction?”
｢What is this? There’s no way a mere human could pose a threat to the progenitor…! So why do I feel this ominous fear? Something is off…!｣
Even the Progenitor would feel reluctant about exposing her heart.
But that was not because she feared it would be destroyed—it was more the embarrassment of showing her bare flesh.Yet shame gives way to desire.The Progenitor is no different.
Her desire overwhelmed her shame.
With the mind to take a chance, she parted her beautiful clothes along with her flesh, revealing her chest cavity.Her grotesque insides were exposed.The Progenitor spoke.
“In that case, go ahead. Try.”
“If I succeed, you’ll stop the fight, right? And also protect me?”
“And what if you fail?”
“I don’t waste time worrying about meaningless things. What’s the worst that could happen—death?”
Even with his mouth shut, Finlay’s desperate mental pleas reached me.
｢Progenitor! No, please no! That guy is dangerous! Even if I don’t know how or what he’s planning… he’s definitely up to something…! Progenitor! Please!｣
However, the Progenitor’s command was absolute, and Finlay had to remain silent.
The Progenitor had not yet given him permission to speak.
I gave Finlay a sly smile, visible only to him as I approached the Progenitor, hiding something fatal in my crackling, electrified hands.
Today is the day everyone gets what they wish for.
The Progenitor will regain the emotions she has long dreamed of, and Finlay’s desire to see her emerge from her long isolation will come true.
Humans are beings who die for things they cannot see.
They’re irrational, illogical, and completely different from common beasts…
But still…
I am their king.
***
Kanysen, who fought against Ebon, died with a pierced heart.
Alpha bled out after having his arm severed.
They had awakened the Undying, thinking they had an ally, but the Undying on this land, which lacked the energy of the Earth, was nothing more than a powerless wreck.
They were no match for Ebon’s Claw.
The Colonel, along with Nabi, pressured Azzy.
Azzy, unable to attack humans, was beaten without being able to fight back and eventually collapsed from blood loss.
Though Ebon had achieved his objective, he couldn’t shake the unease running down his spine.
To anyone else, Kanysen and Alpha seemed like they were merely buying time.
Which meant the remaining members must be doing something that required it.
Ebon deduced this easily enough.
“Could they really be trying to awaken the Progenitor…?”
The blood flowing from the corpses of Kanysen and Alpha crept across the floor, heading somewhere.
Following the trail of blood, Ebon murmured as he made his way toward the underground armory.
Colonel Grant McKinsey, Ebon’s adjutant and confidant, overheard his murmuring and replied.
“What are you worried about? I’ve heard the Progenitor does not interfere in human conflicts.”
“It’s not that she can’t interfere. She simply chooses not to and that’s why such a principle exists. What would the Progenitor, who even mocks the gods, have to fear? While I doubt she’d break her principle for a mere disturbance, who knows what kind of madness these people will pull to awaken her.”
“The Progenitor didn’t react when the Military State buried her in Tantalus. How could they possibly awaken her?”
As if in answer to that question, a voice came from beyond the iron door.
“What about the flesh of an undying?”
Ebon turned toward the sound.
He saw a large iron door etched with blood patterns.
Crimson energy seeped through the cracks, but suddenly, the energy dissipated, and the door swung open.
A man staggered out from inside, holding something dark and black.
Ebon recognized him.
He was a prisoner hastily thrown into Tantalus after Colonel Lankart’s escape.
For the Earth Sage’s plan, someone had to be inside Tantalus and survive, so they’d thrown in a petty criminal who was recently captured and awaiting trial.
Lankart had taken all the dangerous criminals with him, making this possible.
He was said to be a petty offender.
But something felt off.
｢What is this strange feeling?｣
As Ebon observed him, he noticed what the man was holding.
｢An undying’s arm…?｣
The man’s face was smeared with blood as he waved the disembodied arm at Ebon.
Though he couldn’t explain why, the sight sent chills down Ebon’s spine.
“Ebon Crimsonwilde. Hey, fat cat. Nice to meet you.”
[Neighhh!]
At that moment, the sound of hooves echoed from beyond the open door.
Soon, a gigantic blood-red horse squeezed through the passage and charged forward.
Ebon tensed.
｢The Sanguine Horse, Ralion…! The Progenitor’s familiar! They really did awaken her! But…?｣
The blood-red horse rolled its eyes, ignoring Ebon entirely and glaring at the man.
Although horses were typically gentle creatures, Ralion’s face was filled with overwhelming anger and murderous intent.
One touch from Ralion could crush the man.
Just before the rampaging Ralion could trample the man, the man reached out with his left hand.
A piece of cloth spread wide beside him.
As the cloth flapped in front of Ralion, the horse’s attention momentarily shifted.
At the same time, the man rubbed the ground with the undying’s arm in his right hand.
The black flesh crumbled, scattering onto the floor, and as Ralion’s hooves landed on the debris, they melted and slipped.
It was a movement as precise as that of a matador.
Ralion narrowly missed the man and went flying into the distance, right into Nabi.
Nabi leaped and hissed.
“Nyaaaah! What a strange horse, meow! It smells like blood! I don’t like it, nyaaa!”
[Neighhhh!]
As the two beasts began to fight, the man calmly approached.
Despite the bizarre scene, Ebon quickly regained his composure.
｢Ralion attacked him. That means he didn’t manage to make the Progenitor his ally. He must have failed to convince her. In that case, there’s nothing to fear.｣
“It seems your final gamble has failed. I’ll offer my condolences–”
“You’re also chasing something invisible, aren’t you? Haha, impressive. How warm must your back and how full your belly be to sacrifice humans for some sense of purpose?”
Ebon’s calmness quickly vanished.
His face hardened as he asked.
“…What are you talking about?”
“It wasn’t like that in the beginning, was it? At first, your instincts for survival and hatred toward your enemies were all that mattered. Those two things drove you to destroy the Kingdom and become a general, a fat and contented cat.”
The man continued to speak, his words striking too close to Ebon’s life for him to simply dismiss them.
“Now that you have no one left to fight, you search for a new enemy. You fight against your own past! Clinging to useless things that won’t even sustain you, killing your subordinates, and throwing away your own life! What a noble hobby!”
“You…!”
“I declare you human, Ebon Crimsonwilde! Only humans risk their lives for such laughable desires as wanting to be recognized as human!”
The man burst into wild laughter and at that moment, the air shifted.
Darkness stirred ominously.
Blood boiled anxiously.
Something was happening.
No, something had already happened.
Ebon’s instincts as a beast screamed at him.
“What have you done?”
“Hahahahaha! You’ll find out soon!”
[AHHHHHH! IT HURTS, IT HURTS!]
As he predicted, a scream echoed from the dark depths.
The voice, trembling with pain, belonged to none other than the Progenitor, Tyrkanzyaka.
Ebon froze.
The Progenitor possessed an immortal body.
Even with a stake in her heart, she would have remained unfazed.
And yet, the man before him had somehow managed to bring her pain.
“It seems the Progenitor has been asleep for too long and has weakened her immune system! A little heart allergy and she’s already completely out of sorts! Be careful of seizures and hysteria, everyone!”
[YOU… How dare you…! HOW DARE YOU…!]
“Hahahaha! How does it feel to be alive, Tyrkanzyaka? Amazing, right? Thrilling, isn’t it? This is my gift to you! A present for someone who’s longed to feel alive!”
Boom.
A massive arm formed from blood broke through the iron door.
It looked like a demon’s hand emerging from the pit of hell.
The scarlet hand gropes around the ground as if searching for someone.
[I… I will not forgive you! I will never forgive you!]
“If life is suffering, then suffering is life! No need to thank me! Fulfilling desires is what I do!”
Sensing his voice, the demon’s hand clenched into a fist.
At that moment, every hair on Ebon’s body stood on end.
Ebon instinctively leaped away from the ground, and just after he dodged, the enormous fist slammed into the floor.
The impact was like a meteor crashing down, shattering the concrete in a radial pattern.
Blood splattered into the air.
Though Ebon barely avoided it, the Colonel wasn’t as lucky, crushed into a bloody pulp by the fist.
Though his skill was not high, the Colonel had still reached a respectable rank.
Yet, he hadn’t been able to resist and was reduced to a pool of blood.
Ebon knew he wouldn’t fare much better.
Facing the terror of death, Ebon glared at the man.
｢The Progenitor’s rampage is his fault! If I want to survive, I need to sacrifice him!｣
With his target set, Ebon charged forward like a beast, sprinting on all fours to seize the man.
But things didn’t go as planned. The man’s movements were not fast, but they were quick and precise, and he used the demon’s hand as if it were his own.
When Ebon lunged to grab him, the demon’s hand sent him flying back.
Ebon shouted desperately.
“Are you trying to kill us all?!”
“I wasn’t planning to, but it turns out everyone here has a death wish! Well, what can I do? Humans can do anything, even if it means using their power to kill themselves. So, I’ll give you a hand with that!”
“You…! Ugh!”
The demon’s hand swept across the ground.
With such a wide attack, even Ebon couldn’t avoid it, and he was sent tumbling through the air.
Despite all of this, the man remained unscathed.
The Progenitor’s voice echoed throughout the space like a resonating bell.
[Even heaven will not take you! I will hang you upside down and inflict eternal torment upon you!]
“Wow! That’s some serious obsession, but what can I say? I have no intention of being caught! Tell you what, I’ll give you a mission! Tyrkanzyaka, once you leave Tantalus, come find me! After all, it’s more fun to live with a purpose, isn’t it? Hahahahaha!”
[That will never happen! You will not escape this place!]
“Too bad for you, but I’m a magician. When everyone thinks something’s impossible, I can rise to the sky or sink into the ground. Ta-da!”
The man snapped his fingers.
Immediately, there was a loud explosion. It came from Tantalus’s central control room.
Red flames and thick smoke billowed out as the shockwaves shook the ground.
And from there, cracks began to spread.
***
In truth, Tantalus could be destroyed with explosives.
Gamma, the technician, realized this after only a few days.
The bottom of Tantalus was hollow, like a lid placed over a void.
By creating cracks here and there, and then placing explosives in those fissures and detonating them, Tantalus, weakened after 25 years of prisoner riots, would collapse under its own weight and fall into the Abyss.
However, Gamma, who had recently developed a fear of death, kept this information to himself.
Eventually, after mediation from Hughes, Gamma confessed the truth in front of everyone.
He was forgiven and moved to tears of gratitude.
But what he didn’t know was that someone had independently rigged the explosives with their own ignition system.
Gamma realized this only when the explosives went off right before his eyes.
***
The beast of blood roared.
Human corpses were swallowed by the crimson tide, and their undigested flesh was cursed.
At the same time, explosions and tremors rocked the ground.
The earth shook, walls crumbled, and the world tilted.
Gravity distorted.
The concrete ground, the very artificial surface we stood upon, was meeting its end.
Tantalus was falling into the Abyss.
Screams, roars, collapse, and descent — everything happened at once in a cacophony of chaos.
“…Sorry, Azzy. I couldn’t keep my promise this time either.”
And finally… an apology for an unfulfilled promise.
Carved into its very structure by those who had been there, Tantalus became a massive gravestone for the dead as it plummeted to the Abyss.
Rumble.
The earth split open, and the pitch-black Abyss swallowed everything.
Thus, everything fell Into the Abyss.
Into an unobserved past.