Sword God in a World of Magic Chapter 1033 - - Epilogue

"I felt awful since I knew precisely what he was going to do," Alex confessed.

"Alex, do you recall our previous discussion?" the gray-haired elder man remarked while reclining in his plush seat.

Alex let out a sigh. "Shang is me. I am Shang," he recited in a weary, rehearsed manner.

"Correct," the older man affirmed. "Despite being divided into two separate beings, you remained one individual prior to the split."

"Cases exist where multiple souls inhabit a single mind, body, and spirit, yet that didn't apply to you."

"Every action Shang took was yours as well. You cannot simply shift all the blame onto Shang alone."

Alex sighed deeply once more. "I understand that, but it just doesn't seem real to me. I can't picture myself committing such acts. That isn't me at all."

"It isn't you now, yet it formed part of your former self," the older man replied.

"Accepting your past as Shang might come easier when you realize you're no longer linked to him today. Remember, I repaired the flawed sections of your Spirit. Now, you stand as a complete individual."

Alex nodded slowly. "Perhaps," he murmured doubtfully.

Silence.

"When will I be free to go?" Alex inquired.

"I've already explained," the older man stated, leaning ahead in his chair, "once you complete the required program for lasting joy."

"The Gravitas Mental Health Clinic has healed Sextillions of Immortals, Gods, and Heaven Breakers.

"We understand our methods perfectly, along with the troubles that plague nearly every eternal entity."

"Power obsession as an end rather than a tool stands as the top issue."

"For you, it revolves around vengeance and remorse. Your loathing toward Shang burns far too fiercely."

"I think pursuing revenge serves your interests, but first, cultivate a mental state that lets your psyche recover post-revenge. Without it, emptiness awaits."

Alex sighed yet again. "I see. Everything here aims for my own good."

The older man gave a nod.

"Mr. Bauer, what's the status of the Archivist?" Alex questioned.

"Doing quite nicely," the older man replied with a light laugh.

"He's just ascended to the Immortal King Realm."

Upon hearing this, Alex couldn't help but sigh once more.

He yearned to escape Aterium and step into a truly operational Cosmos.

Yet, therapy demanded completion first.

Upon getting the Gravitas' business card from the shadow, Alex obeyed its directives and contacted a number.

Soon after, Mr. Bauer materialized within Aterium.

Following some conversation, Mr. Bauer revealed Alex's true location and Aterium's nature.

Aterium proved to be a Cosmos, though one sorely lacking completion.

Cosmoses basically formed vast spheres of Mana, more accurately termed Energy.

A force named Balance enveloped the Energy, capable of dividing it from Entropy—known truly as Death.

Brutality named the ceaseless force of Destruction, while the boundless Brutality beyond Cosmoses went by Primal Chaos.

Endless Primal Chaos reigned, survivable solely by Heaven Breakers without perishing.

Judging by Aterium's Energy density, Alex lagged roughly five major Realms behind a Heaven Breaker.

Typically, Cosmoses linked to fellow Cosmoses, but Aterium stayed severed from them for some cause.

Alex figured the truth behind these events would forever elude him, yet Mr. Bauer merely reversed time to witness the occurrences.

Evidently, a God Realm figure—Alex's present Realm—had grasped much about Balance and Energy, opting to forge their own Cosmos.

Yet, their strength fell woefully short for crafting a proper Cosmos, and Primal Chaos shattered their will.

They birthed an utterly sealed realm brimming with Energy, devoid of replenishment paths.

Norms saw Cosmoses drawing Energy via the silver wall serving as a sieve.

Here, though, it failed utterly.

Aterium's silver wall formed a near-impassable shield, lacking the power to sift Energy from Primal Chaos.

This birthed the frail, broken Cosmos adrift haphazardly through Primal Chaos.

Aterium would have eluded discovery eternally.

Except Alex's internal turmoil hadn't conjured a Gate of Death.

Some flaw plagued Death, spawning Gates of Death before "worthy" souls across various Cosmoses.

However, it wouldn't resolve matters anyway, as the "seat was already occupied".

Essentially, it amounted to a foolish, pointless impulse wrecking worlds without purpose or aim.

A figure was managing the Gates of Death throughout every Cosmos, one whom Alex had personally witnessed.

The silver shadow had been that figure.

Alex would remain trapped in eternal despair without the Gate of Death.

Of course, after inspecting this unusual Cosmos, Mr. Bauer had effortlessly merged it into his own Cosmos.

Aterium had become part of an enormously larger Cosmos, trillions of times more expansive.

Even better, the Energy across the Cosmos was expanding rather than shrinking.

Positioned as a "Higher World" inside this Cosmos, Aterium experienced a massive surge in its Energy.

Gods now frequently emerged in the world, ascending to superior realms to encounter other Gods and achieve greater power.

Aterium's terrifying doom had finally concluded.

Mr. Bauer had severed Alex's tie to Aterium as well, granting him full independence once more.

Upon completing his therapy, Alex could begin anew in one of Mr. Bauer's lower worlds.

There, he would at last gain the chance to rise completely to Heaven Breaker.

Afterward, Alex could pursue Shang and exact his revenge!

Mr. Bauer explained that Shang remained alive, heading toward a Cosmos, though roughly five million years would elapse before he reached it.

Furthermore, Shang had seemingly devised ways to grow stronger still during his journey.

Delight surged through Alex at this revelation.

Shang's survival meant Alex could slay him personally!

He yearned to embark on his path to power once more!

"Okay, how did you feel when you knew that you were about to kill your friend, Jerald?" Mr. Bauer asked.

Alex drew in a deep breath.

Yet, therapy needed completion first.

Creator's Thought

A couple hundred chapters ago, people went "Man, I wonder how he will redeem him."

Then, people went "This Character is not getting redeemed."

-Warmaisach