THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 852 Path to Revelation (1)

Across countless celestial bodies adrift in the immense cosmos, a figure cloaked in black traversed endlessly, his features veiled, his identity obscured as he journeyed from one desolate locale to another.

Following in his wake walked two beings, their forms almost perfectly mirrored in stature and build, though they were no more than ethereal specters, silently witnessing his pilgrimage and reliving each moment alongside him.

Beside him, on his right, strode Frey, his eyes alight with profound curiosity, while on his left moved the current iteration of Nameless, hands plunged into his pockets, his countenance utterly impassive, for the unfolding events were largely etched into his pre-existing knowledge.

This epoch marked the true genesis of Nameless's odyssey. He traversed the galaxies, seeking the veiled truth behind his fragmented existence, honing the formidable techniques that would eventually etch his legend into eternity.

Following his daring escape from the clutches of the Great One of Krat, subsequent events transpired much as Frey had already anticipated.

Nameless, with prescient foresight, had foreseen the demonic onslaught years prior, meticulously preparing himself for the brutal trials of survival. Then descended the utter devastation... every living entity on Krat was annihilated… save for Nameless, whose solitary survival was owed to his unparalleled mastery over the cosmic laws of space.

Yet, the most perplexing anomaly was the conspicuous absence of the Great One of Krat during that cataclysmic confrontation. He was nowhere to be seen. Not even a whisper of his presence lingered.

Nameless, after his own power had sufficiently ascended, made numerous attempts to locate him, but even with his enhanced might… he ultimately failed.

"I scoured the cosmos for him," Nameless stated, his voice resonating beside Frey as spectral visions of his past confrontations with other Great Ones flickered before them. "I intended to apprehend him… to compel him to divulge his secrets if need be. It was evident he possessed knowledge I lacked. But he eluded me entirely."

"My strength was already considerable during that period… I daresay I vanquished one or two of the Great Ones during my sojourns across their domains. However, none of them yielded any pertinent information."

"I even crossed paths with their progenitor—Odin—once. But he sought me out… and I found myself utterly powerless against him. He never materialized in a corporeal form… appearing only as a cursed, intangible mist."

Frey, having personally witnessed these echoes of the past, could only offer his silent assent. Even as mere fragments of memory, they possessed a palpable and undeniable significance.

"What was his objective concerning you? That entity known as… Odin."

Frey possessed exceedingly limited knowledge of this name. He had only encountered it recently—through Audrey, who had issued a solemn warning about him. Even Audrey herself remained an enigma to him… simultaneously unfamiliar and strikingly reminiscent.

Nameless closed his eyes momentarily before articulating his response.

"I am uncertain of his precise intentions. But based on his pronouncements… I inferred that he harbored a keen interest in me… and equally, in the Demon King, Agaroth."

"It was as though he sought something… a unique essence that only the two of us possessed."

"And what precisely would that be?" Frey inquired.

As his reply, Nameless extended his hand, conjuring the swirling vortex of gray-red energy.

"He most likely coveted this very power… As for Agaroth, the specifics elude me. Perhaps it pertains to the wellspring of his formidable strength. Power of such magnitude… does not arise from nothingness."

"Agaroth harbors something intrinsic within him… something that forged him into the being he is today."

Frey offered a slight nod upon absorbing this revelation, then let loose a faint, bitter smile.

"I ought to be the one who comprehends the origin of that power… seeing as I am his creator. Yet, paradoxically, I am the one who understands him the least in this entire world."

A distinct irony permeated his statement. Nameless, however, bore him no ill will. Instead, he gently placed a hand upon Frey's shoulder, urging him to maintain his focus.

"There is no need to dwell on it presently. We shall unearth the answers when the opportune moment arrives. Come… it is time to delve into the subsequent memory."

Frey acquiesced with a nod.

"But… now that you have fully reclaimed all your memories, does that not imply you are already privy to everything? What exactly are you endeavoring to reveal to me?"

Nameless responded with a calm shake of his head.

"That is not the case. Even I… remain unaware of what these memories will ultimately unveil."

"What do you mean?" Frey's inquisitiveness intensified. This revelation surpassed his prior expectations... even Nameless himself seemed uncertain of the path ahead.

Nameless remained in contemplative silence for a brief interval before finally uttering his words.

"There exists a particular memory… one that was expunged. A memory I myself eradicated… subsequent to uncovering a truth far too agonizing for me to bear at that juncture."

Frey's expression instantly became rigid.

What manner of memory could compel even the stoic, unfeeling Nameless to obliterate it… deeming himself incapable of enduring its profound weight?

"There is no need for haste," Nameless stated placidly. "You shall comprehend in due course."

He gestured onward, and Frey followed without a trace of hesitation.

What Nameless illuminated next pertained to the genesis of his dominion over life and death—the methods by which he learned to ignite souls, the art of crafting vessels capable of containing them, and the process through which he resurrected the deceased.

These were abilities of extraordinary magnitude, unparalleled in their scope, establishing him as one of the foremost wielders of power over the forces of existence and oblivion.

Yet, all these profound capabilities shared a singular point of origin.

That enigmatic gray-red energy.

That power remained a mystery to Nameless, a force he could never truly command despite his relentless efforts. As the Great one of Krat had foretold… his very existence was incomplete.

"I always found that particular power so perplexing," Nameless mused, observing his younger self as he practiced and experimented.

"Initially, I mistook it as merely an extension of life and demise… but as time passed, I discerned it transcended such a simple definition."

"Its origins are entirely detached from this world."

These words escaped his lips as he reflected on all the truths he had uncovered.

"This is the very same energy wielded by those… designated as Writers."

Frey's eyes sparked with recognition upon hearing the word.

It echoed the term used by the mysterious entity behind the system… the one that had introduced itself as a Writer.

"If such power belongs to the Writers… does this imply I too can utilize it?"

Nameless offered a nod in affirmation.

"Indeed. I sensed it within you when your soul ignited during our confrontation with Agaroth."

"However, what resides within you… is also incomplete. Much like my own."

Nameless turned his gaze towards Frey, their eyes locking in a silent acknowledgment.

In that shared moment… a singular thought resonated between them.

Yet, no words were exchanged. They simply continued their journey, adrift in the stream of recollections.

"So then… what are the Writers? How does the material realm differ from the Aether? And what secrets lie concealed behind this enigma?"

More pressingly… was the Aether even a tangible reality, or merely an elaborate illusion?

The concept of a vastly superior world existing beyond the known veil was both captivating… and deeply unnerving.

Legend had it that Odin himself hailed from that very realm… and if the Writers' power emanated from there as well, it suggested Frey's own lineage might be tied to it.

This realization amplified Frey's profound existential crisis. He struggled to fully comprehend the material world… how then could he possibly grasp something as immense as the Aether?

The mere contemplation of it induced a throbbing headache, intensifying with each passing second.

Therefore, he resolved to let the questions go… entrusting everything to Nameless.

He let himself be carried by the flow of memories, hoping that amidst them, the ultimate truth would eventually surface.

From that juncture forward, time seemed to decelerate. Both individuals allowed themselves to be submerged in the somber, distant recollections of Nameless's past.

Yet, Nameless's steadfast presence—his guidance—imbued these memories with an unexpected warmth… a peculiar semblance of life they had previously lacked.

As they progressed, Nameless imparted numerous insights to Frey… with patience and unhurried deliberation.

He elucidated the essence of true mastery… and the methods by which one could elevate their abilities to their absolute zenith.

He demonstrated how a solitary skill perfected could far surpass a multitude left in a state of incompletion.

"Aura is the vital life force that sustains this existence," Nameless declared, showcasing his unparalleled command over it.

"Should one achieve complete mastery, miracles become attainable. And throughout the entire history of the material world… none have wielded it with greater proficiency than I."

Frey remained astounded by the sheer finesse of his control—yet, another question lingered in his mind.

"You attained such heights with Aura… yet you struggled to control that other power…"

"Because it is fundamentally different," Nameless responded, calmly delineating the distinction.

"To command Aura is to manipulate that which already exists… drawing it from the surrounding world and redirecting its flow."

Aura permeated the material world—it was ubiquitous, ready to be shaped and molded.

"But that eerie gray-red energy…" he continued, gesturing slightly with his hand, "it originates from nothingness. That is where the divergence lies."

"It sounds deceptively simple… yet it presented the greatest complexity I ever encountered."

The manipulation of Aura involved reshaping an existing entity.

However, that other power… necessitated the creation of something from absolute void.

It was, in its very nature… an impossibility.

Nameless had never fathown how he managed to manifest it in the first place. It felt as though it sprang forth from within his core—from the deepest strata of his soul and being.

And even an individual of his caliber… a master without equal… could not fully comprehend it.

"I could not grasp it… precisely because its inception lies beyond this realm."

The instant these words were spoken, the tapestry of memories underwent another shift—unveiling something entirely novel.

"These… are the remnants," Nameless stated. "Testaments to the Aether… and the history-making Writers."