Endless Debt Chapter 1134: Epilogue 2

"Only when he attempted to initiate the New World Plan, and the Fall of the Holy City shattered everything," Mammon stated, pausing briefly before continuing. "I suspect that the ritual I interrupted, occurring more than twenty years prior to the Holy City's downfall, was the initial blueprint for the New World Plan. For countless years, he meticulously gathered technology, which was finally exposed during the Fury of Scorched Earth."

"Despite our actions in killing King Solomon and incinerating the Holy City, it proved insufficient. Leviathan had already secured the necessary technology and continued his clandestine preparations over the subsequent years."

Mammon's voice escalated, "Bologue Lazarus serves as the ultimate testament; he became indebted to Leviathan during the Fall of the Holy City. While he was detained by the Order Bureau, Xilin infiltrated the Cultivation Room. His self-detonation was solely to ensure the discreet transfer of his Alchemy Matrix to Bologue, undetected."

"And for what reason did he undertake such an action? What makes his Alchemy Matrix so exceptionally significant?"

Mammon's barrage of questions intensified, his demeanor growing increasingly agitated, bordering on a shout. "Why did we only learn of his grand scheme during the Fury of Scorched Earth?"

The woman lapsed into silence. Amidst the chaotic conflict of the Fury of Scorched Earth, their awareness of the New World Plan dawned, prompting a collective redirection of their efforts, culminating in the destruction of the imposing Holy City.

"Have you not perceived the anomaly? Leviathan's machinations remained shrouded in secrecy, yet at the critical juncture, his intelligence inexplicably surfaced, inciting our assault and leading to the Holy City's demise... Could this have been orchestrated by him as well? Employing us to eliminate the increasingly formidable King Solomon, while he absconded with this abhorrent technology?"

Mammon unleashed a cascade of inquiries, ultimately concluding with a solemn declaration. "Beelzebub, irrespective of the accuracy of my hypothesis, or the precise nature of Leviathan's machinations... he has ascended to a level of danger that threatens to destabilize our equilibrium; his removal is imperative."

Implacable replacement...

The woman's expression shifted, becoming markedly more serious and guarded; she was taken aback by Mammon's direct proposition of such a drastic measure.

Just as she prepared to voice her thoughts, Mammon interjected once more. "Do you possess the audacity to place a wager?"

Mammon fixed his gaze upon the woman, his eyes piercing like needles. "The New World Plan is no longer an enigma. We are now privy to its true essence. Do you comprehend the ramifications of this revelation?"

The phrase 'New World' reverberated in the woman's mind, each instance instilling a profound sense of agonizing pain.

There was an undeniable truth in Mammon's assertion: every Devil harbored both envy and dread concerning the potential dominion of the New World, a power capable of irrevocably shattering the established order.

"No matter the extent of our soul harvesting, the pace is agonizingly slow. We are intrinsically bound by power, yet we remain mutual adversaries, constantly vying for dominance, eager to obliterate each other yet simultaneously fearing the consequence of another's destruction, lest their power fall into unforeseen hands."

Mammon articulated the complex tapestry of animosity and camaraderie that defined the Devils. Their actions were invariably dictated by self-interest, perpetuating an unending cycle from which release seemed impossible.

"Leviathan is both a lunatic and a visionary. Rather than engaging in prolonged conflict with us, his kin, within this realm, he elected to forge a new arena... a fresh world."

Even for a formidable Devil, the woman felt a momentary disruption in her heartbeat. At that juncture, every Devil privy to this information experienced a similar somatic reaction.

Initially, an overwhelming wave of avarice surged, for it represented an entirely uncharted territory, a pristine hunting ground. As the Ethereal Realm began its subtle confluence with it, bestowing upon Devils the capacity to manifest their powers, an untold multitude of souls awaited their ultimate harvest.

Following this euphoric elation came a palpable dread; they feared the possibility of another discovering this New World before them, thereby gaining its formidable power and subsequently orchestrating their annihilation.

Consequently, the Devils tacitly resolved to obliterate all vestiges of its existence, collectively deceiving themselves into forgetting the New World's very presence.

Yet, how could they truly suppress such deep-seated yearning and envy?

The mere contemplation of such a possibility sent their minds spiraling into endless, torturous contortions.

Mammon then unveiled the truth of bygone events, "Leveraging the formidable might of Leviathan and the keen intellect of King Solomon, they devised a ritual. Through this ceremony, innumerable souls were cast into the void, until, miraculously, one soul found passage to another realm.

The gateway to an alternate dimension had finally been discovered."

In that very instant, the writhing mass of flesh within the cave stilled, and even the surface of the Blood Lake settled into an unnerving placidity.

An opaque, tar-like substance filled Mammon's eyes, oozing forth with agonizing slowness, accompanied by a faint, corrosive hiss.

"Did we truly annihilate everything that fateful day?" Mammon questioned, his voice laced with doubt. "Could it be that Leviathan achieved his objective? Perhaps, somewhere within this world, there exists a soul bearing the indelible memories of another dimension, complete with the precise coordinates of that very world?"

He would become the very key to unlocking the New World.

Much like how he had once opened a door within this very realm.

"Silence, Mammon."

The woman's exquisite features contorted with growing distress, yet Mammon remained unfazed, behaving as if he were the sovereign of this domain, his voice booming once more.

"This possibility cannot be dismissed, my dear. Once suspicion takes root, unless Leviathan is utterly destroyed and his will extinguished, you will find no eternal rest."

Mammon added, "Perhaps, in a future not too distant, eternity itself will be out of our reach."

"Did you come only to utter these words to me?" the woman managed to suppress her rising anger.

Mammon replied, "Certainly not. I merely came to confront you with the stark reality. The King's Secret Sword is gravely wounded, Xilin has been resurrected, and now, all eyes are upon you. If we do not stand united, we will fall, one by one."

The woman grasped the unspoken meaning behind Mammon's statement. "It is not I who need you; it is you who require my aid to avoid annihilation."

Mammon merely offered a smile, an unsettling, wicked grin.

"Leviathan cannot achieve all this by himself," the woman stated with conviction.

"Precisely why he has swayed Belphegor and Asmodeus. They anticipate sharing in the spoils of victory," Mammon elaborated. "Three individuals dividing the world's souls is undoubtedly more appealing than seven."

"You have overlooked someone," the woman inquired, treading carefully.

"Him? He possesses no power; he is but an empty vessel. Discussing him is futile." Mammon seemed disinclined to elaborate further on this point.

"Then, what are your plans moving forward?"

The woman understood that Mammon must have meticulously prepared for this meeting, and all their preceding discourse was merely a prelude to his true intentions.

Yet, one point Mammon made resonated with undeniable truth: the escalating peril demanded their unity, a symbiotic reliance upon one another.

"The strategy is quite straightforward. You must devise a method to withstand Xilin's fury. As for me, I shall undertake the task of eliminating those destabilizing elements."

"Such as?"

"Consider Bologue Lazarus. Regardless of his precise role in Leviathan's machinations, his removal will undoubtedly impact Leviathan. Furthermore, the individual currently imprisoned could prove to be a valuable asset. And then there is..."

"For instance, the one who has remained dormant all this time."

Mammon fell silent on this matter, his hands rising, fingers meeting in a precise gesture.

"As the concentration of Ether steadily increases and the Ethereal Realm progressively merges with the Material Realm, Condensers will acquire greater influence over reality, and so shall we."

Mammon painted a vivid picture of the unfolding future.

"The extraordinary mundane world is on the cusp of its arrival."

...

A continuous veil of white mist ascended, the dense clouds resembling converging silver dragons in a high-speed chase. These clouds coalesced into thick layers, obscuring the entire expanse of the sky. Vague outlines of lightning could be discerned deep within the cloud cover.

Thunder reverberated across the heavens, the atmosphere thick with the tang of electricity. Violent winds swept in, agitating the billowing clouds, through which swift currents coursed. In the brief intervals between lightning flashes, faint electrical charges could be observed leaping erratically, flickering with a blinding intensity.

A deafening thunderclap erupted, the explosive sound of the lightning strike serving as a celestial declaration of war between the heavens and the earth.

The Astronaut rested with practiced ease upon his recliner, his gaze fixed upon the azure planet below and the colossal storm that was gradually taking shape within its atmosphere.

His golden visor mirrored the myriad wonders of the world beneath him.