Summoned to the Moon by Leviathan, Xilin finds himself in a desolate landscape where he witnesses Leviathan disposing of Bologue's corpse. Leviathan reveals that Bologue was merely a tool, much like Xilin himself. Leviathan then explains how he managed to retrieve Xilin's body and why Gray intervened during Xilin's near-death experience, attributing it to his understanding of Mammon's nature and Gray's will.
"It was not I who directly influenced their will to bring your body out; I merely offered a slight suggestion. Besides, retrieving your body through a transaction is a perfectly logical course of action."
Leviathan extended a hand, pushing gently forward. "Often, one needs only to do this much."
Xilin remained quiet, his steps falling closely behind Leviathan.
From the very beginning to the end, he found himself incapable of truly understanding this Devil.
"Mammon is a man of suspicion. While he may not grasp my ultimate objective, he believes hindering me is sufficient. Therefore, he will undoubtedly interfere. As for Gray, he is even more predictable."
Leviathan spoke of the unfortunate man.
"Gray, a soul deeply entrenched in the code of knights and ancient honor, fancies himself righteous... If he were to learn the complete truth, how would he react?"
Leviathan let out a soft chuckle. "You see, Gray's actions are quite easy to anticipate, wouldn't you agree?"
"But all these paths are determined by others," Xilin interjected. "You are counting on the inherent fickleness of humanity? You're gambling."
Leviathan nearly erupted into laughter. "I find great amusement in betting on the unpredictable nature of humankind. Don't you agree it's rather fascinating? The thrill of victory is exceptionally gratifying, wouldn't you say?"
"Much like yourself, Xilin."
Leviathan suddenly shifted his focus towards Xilin. "Beelzebub holds sway over the Kagader Royal Family, thereby indirectly controlling the extensive King's Secret Swords. Not to mention, the Astros Sect falls directly under her command... She is a formidable adversary, and dealing with her will undoubtedly drain my resources, potentially jeopardizing my ultimate aims."
"Therefore, I've chosen to assist you, Xilin. I will help you reclaim your body, and your task is remarkably straightforward—infiltrate the Pillar of Royal Authority once more and seize the throne that rightfully belongs to you."
Leviathan's voice took on a sinister edge, the diving suit he wore seeming to swell with a burgeoning dark madness.
"You won't refuse my use of you, will you? You will willingly allow me to utilize you, won't you?"
Xilin's face was taut, like a drawn crossbow, his rage simmering beneath the surface, yet refusing to erupt.
Indeed, as long as Xilin harbored any lingering anger, he was destined to carve a path back to the Pillar of Royal Authority. To regain the crown, he would have to slay the original sealed King... along with the Devil lurking behind him, the King's Secret Sword, the Astros Sect, and anyone else who dared to obstruct Xilin's path would be utterly crushed.
These were precisely the individuals Leviathan also considered his enemies.
"See, humanity is surprisingly reliable," Leviathan guffawed hoarsely. "Do you wish to defy me? The solution is simple—find a secluded place and live out your days in peace. But can you truly endure such an existence?"
"What is it that you truly desire?"
Xilin felt a surge of pain, the agony of his confinement washing over him. "Leviathan, you've undertaken so much, manipulated so many individuals—what is it that you genuinely seek to accomplish?"
Leviathan offered no immediate reply, instead gesturing for Xilin to join him in an open-air cinema. He reclined on a lounge chair, his gaze fixed upon the fragmented, starry dome above.
"Xilin, have you ever heard of spacesuits?" Leviathan inquired abruptly.
"What are those?"
"They are a form of attire utilized by humans during deep space exploration for self-protection... much like what I am currently wearing."
Leviathan tapped his helmet, murmuring almost to himself, "This is no ordinary diving suit; it is a spacesuit, one unparalleled in the world."
Xilin failed to comprehend Leviathan's pronouncements.
"We are currently situated in the void of deep space, a perilous frontier where we contend with challenges such as a lack of oxygen, extreme pressure, and intense radiation. This suit provides the necessary protection for survival in such an environment."
Leviathan continued, "Would you care to experience the sensation of being truly immersed in deep space? This is my domain, shielded by my power. Should I withdraw this protection, you would find yourself completely exposed to the vastness of space. The frigid temperatures would freeze you solid, the pressure would crush your insides, your lungs would rupture into bloody fragments, and you might even be pierced by high-speed cosmic dust and succumb to high-dose radiation."
Xilin remained speechless; Leviathan's words were beyond his grasp. Leviathan recognized this, a hint of disappointment coloring his voice.
"Very well, I harbor no resentment towards you. After all, in this era, humanity has not even mastered the construction of rockets, let alone ventured into deep space exploration. Such knowledge is more invaluable than any treasure..."
"Is this knowledge pertaining to the stars?" Xilin began to grasp Leviathan's intent.
"Indeed. I hold a profound affection for the stars. I often gaze upon them, and in my pursuit to comprehend their very essence, I have even undertaken certain audacious endeavors..."
Leviathan's tone shifted as he posed another question to Xilin. "Xilin, do you comprehend the sheer immensity of the stars, the universe?"
Xilin merely shook his head. He rarely directed his gaze toward the night sky, nor had he ever contemplated what might lie beyond the clouds. Many individuals share this same indifference.
Leviathan presented a miniature galaxy with moon dust, forming small spheres that orbited each other in his palm.
"This represents our galaxy; the central sphere is the sun, and this one is our planet," Leviathan explained to Xilin, his tone didactic. "From the center to the edge, it's over six billion kilometers. Xilin, can you comprehend that scale?"
Xilin faltered, the immense numbers beyond his grasp. Like most on his world, their perspectives were limited to the terrestrial before the vastness of the cosmos.
"Solar systems like ours are contained within larger systems. Each contains hundreds of billions of solar systems. And above that system lies another system… ever larger, ever more boundless..."
Leviathan's voice trailed off, a hint of despair creeping in as he spoke of the universe's grandeur.
Xilin, though unable to fully visualize the concepts, felt a profound shock mirroring Leviathan's words.
Still, it wasn't enough.
Leviathan suddenly stood, grasping Xilin's head. Instantly, Xilin's vision dissolved into darkness, pierced by a single twinkling point. This point rapidly expanded, like a contagion, until dense specks nearly consumed everything.
Countless points of light coalesced into luminous, drifting halos, and thousands upon thousands of these halos flashed with dizzying speed. Pulled into this chaotic spectacle, Xilin couldn't help but scream, and with his cries, his perspective shifted dramatically.
Everything became infinitesimally small, yet simultaneously, infinitely large.
Boundlessness upon boundlessness.
Returning to the grey-white void, Xilin stood frozen. Sweat drenched his collar, his mind utterly blank, devoid of thought.
Under the immense cosmic display, Xilin was overcome by a surprising sense of emptiness and melancholy, emotions that flickered and faded.
"Each of those specks is a world like ours," Leviathan's voice gradually returned, filled with exhilaration. "Xilin, this world is so vast. Don't you desire to discover its furthest reaches?"
When speaking of these matters, the Devil's demeanor was akin to a scholar lost in the rapture of discovery.
"Xilin Kagader," the Devil's voice grew solemn. He raised his head, eyes glistening with unshed tears, fixed upon the breathtaking celestial panorama.
"Look. Compared to this unfathomable expanse, we are utterly insignificant. Our hatred, our honor, even our very existence or annihilation, are rendered meaningless."
A prolonged silence followed, then a powerful declaration broke through.
"I once yearned to be an astronaut, but now I am bound to this land." The Devil's words pulsed with an intense, untamable longing.
"I wish to end this pointless conflict; I seek to become the one true King of Demons."
Then, the Devil, with the simple wonder of a child, gazed once more toward the star-filled sky.
