Sword God in a World of Magic Chapter 1029 - - Two Luciuses

Lucius's right eyebrow twitched with barely contained fury.

"It wasn't me who ruined everything," he declared in a grim voice.

Right then, Lucius jabbed his finger toward the corpse.

"He condemned me to stay trapped here for eternity!"

Shang remained silent, yet he understood that Lucius spoke the truth.

To some extent, this version of Lucius had been thrust into this predicament unwillingly.

Earlier, when Shang had observed Lucius, a realization had dawned on him.

The figures composing Lucius's very being didn't quite add up completely.

Something seemed absent from the equation.

Lucius appeared as an incomplete entity.

Likewise, upon inspecting the corpse, Shang noticed the identical anomaly.

The corpse's numbers also failed to align perfectly.

However, combining the corpse and Lucius made everything click into place.

That moment brought clarity to Shang about the events.

Now, Shang comprehended the existence of both a deceased and a living Lucius.

Now, Shang understood the drastic change in Lucius from his former self.

Now, Shang knew the circumstances of the original Lucius's death.

"He wanted to have his cake and eat it too, huh?"

Shang inquired with a sinister chuckle.

Lucius offered no reply, but his irritated and grave look confirmed Shang's accuracy.

"When the old Lucius ascended to Godhood, he peered beyond the silver wall into the endless void of the Abominations," Shang elaborated.

"He ventured into the void, journeying through it until reaching the eternal Destruction lurking beyond."

"Just like me, he felt despair upon witnessing it."

Then, Shang let out a confident chuckle.

"But also just like me, he devised a swift solution."

"As the Child of Calamity, we wield control over Entropy."

"This grants us dominion over the boundless void of Entropy encircling Aterium."

"We can simply order the infinite void to trail us, forming an almost limitless shield."

"Even more, with Destruction present out there, Entropy and Mana must exist too."

"Using certain techniques, we can draw additional Entropy into the void, bolstering our shield's strength."

"As long as we continue moving steadily in one direction, we'll inevitably discover something to harvest Mana again, enabling further power growth."

"Alternatively, deeper insights into Mana and Entropy might reveal alternative paths to greater strength."

"Nevertheless, eventually, we'll encounter something novel out there."

"We just need to depart Aterium and direct the void of Entropy to accompany us."

Shang chuckled once more.

"But that's where Lucius grew sentimental, right?"

Hatred flashed in the current Lucius's eyes as memories of that doomed day resurfaced.

"He didn't want to abandon all his friends behind," Shang stated. "Yes, if he departed Aterium with the void of Entropy, the Abominations' threat would be neutralized."

"However, without anyone overseeing Aterium, a new void of Entropy would emerge, allowing the Abominations to return."

"Even more, Lucius would depart carrying most of Aterium's Mana."

"So, what did Lucius decide to do?"

"He created me," the current Lucius uttered through narrowed eyes.

Shang let out a brief laugh.

"I heard from Gregorio that Lucius often appeared conflicted."

"He was generally kind-hearted, yet at times, he lost control and committed atrocities."

"By examining the workings of reality and life, Lucius uncovered the reasons behind these occurrences."

"Ultimately, he chose to divide the negative numbers from the positive ones."

"Lucius divided himself into two," Shang declared.

"One became a benevolent figure with inner tranquility, while the other embodied turbulent rage and emotions."

"And since Lucius had become such a good person, guilt weighed on him too, didn't it?" Shang questioned.

"He felt remorse for dooming part of himself to eternal confinement in Aterium, and regret for seizing most of the Mana."

"Thus, he returned a substantial portion of his Mana to Aterium."

"However, as the new God of the world, you have merged with Aterium itself."

"You embody the world, and the world embodies you."

"That essentially meant Lucius had bestowed the Mana upon you."

"And you..."

"And I killed him," Lucius stated with a pleased smirk.

BANG!

Then, Lucius booted the corpse against the wall.

"He extracted me from himself and embedded me into Aterium's core," Lucius explained. "I lack a true body. One might say the silver wall serves as my skin, while Aterium forms my flesh, bones, blood, and organs."

"This body is just a projection—empty and insignificant."

The next moment, Lucius clenched his teeth.

"I can't even occupy another body, for I've fused with the world's Concepts themselves!"

"Lucius realized he needed to bind my life to Aterium's! Without that, I would simply abandon Aterium."

"Just like he attempted to abandon me," Lucius hissed venomously.

"Of course, I could craft a body for myself, but if I entered that body, I would forfeit all my power and cease to exist."

"I am trapped!"

"I am trapped forever as Aterium's God!"

SHING!

The corpse materialized again before Lucius, who kicked it straight into the wall once more.

"This is the doom he inflicted upon me!"

In the next instant, a wild grin twisted across Lucius' face.

"And that's exactly why I slew him!"

"Our clash was no simple affair."

"Initially, he held the advantage, but he simply couldn't bring himself to deliver the finishing blow."

"He had bound me to Aterium, meaning Aterium was now bound to me as well."

"Thus, if I perish, Lucius would effectively condemn Aterium to ruin, having already depleted his very essence. He could no longer divide himself."

"Should he have slain me, he'd either remain trapped in Aterium eternally or abandon it without a God."

Lucius let out a low chuckle.

"Obviously, I turned that hesitation against him, and finally, I ended his life."

"I spread his Mana across the entirety of Aterium, which amounted to me absorbing it completely."

"And just like that, I was ensnared."

Lucius slumped back against his shattered throne, flashing a smirk at Shang.

"Now that you know..."

"What will you do?"