THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 858 The Awakening (2)

Nameless returned to the mortal realm, and with that, the warmth of his emotions vanished once more. However, the sights he had witnessed and the experiences he had endured remained etched within him, a burden he could never shed. Tormented by these memories, he deferred making any decisions, not yet ready. He postponed everything until his existence felt complete, until he could mend his fractured self. Once his power was restored and he became whole again, he made a definitive choice. Employing his Aether abilities and his refined aura control, he completely excised those memories from his mind, along with his Aether-born powers. These powers he later entrusted to Gehrman, who safeguarded them within his own being, integrating them as part of himself. Gehrman carried these powers until the prophesied day when they could be returned to their rightful owner. The reason he sealed away the power of a Writer was his understanding of Agaroth's true desires. The Demon King yearned to depart the mortal realm, to witness the genuine Aether realm with his own eyes. To achieve this, he had once attempted to consume Frey entirely, along with his power, but he failed. Since then, he had been waiting for another chance. Nameless knew with absolute certainty that he would one day confront Agaroth, and that he would likely meet defeat. Therefore, he renounced his power, understanding that Agaroth would not pursue him if that power no longer resided within him. This was the reason Nameless was later able to return through Frey without succumbing to the monster that devoured all. It also illuminated why the Demon King kept Frey alive, allowing him to grow progressively stronger. Releasing the seal was one factor, but more significantly, it was to recuperate Frey's power so that it could be devoured. The Nameless of the past had no concern for the war against demons, nor for preserving the world. But everything transformed once he grasped the truth. From that moment on, he became a genuine leader of the Shadow Sect, forging the fearsome organization renowned across the globe. He relinquished his solitary existence, plunged into the war, battled the demons, and stood in opposition to Agaroth. Ultimately, he managed to seal him, at the price of his own life. Yet, before all of that transpired, he laid plans for a distant future—a future where the missing components of his existence would be reunited, and his shattered self restored. This was a mission he entrusted to Gehrman after foreseeing countless potential futures through his unique ability. It was an arduous undertaking, compelling Gehrman to traverse worlds for innumerable years, adhering to a prophecy left by his master. This prophecy directed him to seek a lost fragment—a piece of an ancient being absent since the dawn of time. The prophecy was never precise, branching into myriad paths and endless possibilities. Earth was never the sole destination, merely one among hundreds, even thousands. Nevertheless, Gehrman pursued every avenue, every potential scenario, wandering the vast cosmos in his quest for what his master had envisioned. The blue-eyed man encountered failure repeatedly, each attempt leading to a dead end. Years elapsed, and time eroded him. With each setback, his vessel fractured further. His power diminished and waned until the once-magnificent Saint Gehrman lost his radiance, transforming into naught but an ancient shadow shrouded in darkness. A phantom drifting through the universe, he observed the ascendancy of civilizations and the demise of others. Still, he persevered, never abandoning hope, until the prophecy guided him to Earth. The planet where he finally discovered what he sought, the path he recognized as correct without a shadow of a doubt. From the very outset, Frey and Nameless were integral parts of a single entity; neither could truly endure without the other. This differed from the Pure Vessel, whose soul was bifurcated, giving rise to distinct entities like Orsted and Snow, both capable of coexisting. Frey and Nameless were dissimilar; only one could proceed. This was because both were intrinsically linked to a being that existed beyond the confines of the material world. Consequently, Gehrman sought to reinstate Nameless through Frey. To accomplish this, both had to reach their absolute pinnacles, extracting every iota of power within them. This imperative drove him to push Frey relentlessly, forcing him to endure repeated suffering until he grew stronger. In the climactic confrontation against Agaroth, he succeeded. Frey's physique attained the ultimate SSS stage, and he even awakened his innate power as a Writer, sacrificing his very soul to do so. Thus, the fusion became feasible. At long last, Gehrman enacted his plan. He brought Frey to the consecrated site he had long prepared, positioning every element precisely where it belonged: the armor and the sword, which contained the vestiges of Nameless's power and his complete memories; Frey's body, awakened to its apex; and the final component—the last memory concealed within Gehrman himself, which could only be released through his demise. Without hesitation, he surrendered it, thereby concluding his mission flawlessly.

From a distance, Frey and the current Nameless became witnesses to everything, coming to the realization that they had not only reclaimed their own memories but also those belonging to Gehrman.

His strength. His torment. All of it had now been assimilated into Frey.

This allowed them to grasp, even if only slightly, the immense hardship that the blue-eyed man had endured. They observed his entire life's journey, just as they had witnessed the path of Nameless. Their sight encompassed all.

As they saw it all, the two began to converse about their shared experiences, their collective suffering, the profound truths about their world, and the reality of their familial bonds. They discussed what their next steps must be.

The situation was intricate. Frey had uncovered that his true family resided beyond the material realm, within the Aether world. However, concurrently, he had forged another family in the material world—a sister for whom he deeply cared, and individuals he fervently wished to see thrive and remain well.

Through the combined essence of both Frey and Nameless, a new existence was on the cusp of being born. This would be the ultimate, final iteration—a being from which no other would subsequently emerge. It represented the complete self of the entity known as Frey, a version far more potent than any that had existed prior.

This being would possess the capability to wield both aura and the formidable power of Writers, a might that could stand against the Demon King, Agaroth. Yet, the most critical question lingered: for what ultimate purpose would such incredible power be employed? Would it serve as the force to preserve the world, or would it become the instrument of its annihilation?

The weight of this decision was colossal; no living creature would willingly shoulder such a burden. And yet, in the final moments, a choice had to be made—a difficult one. But unexpectedly, for Frey and Nameless, the answer was clear and simple.

The instant they emerged from the ethereal light, they met each other's gaze, and the identical thought was reflected in both their eyes: "There is no need to think… no need to decide. The path has already been drawn."

Frey articulated this with a measure of calm in his voice, walking alongside Nameless through the remnants of their inner world, their ultimate sanctuary. The sea of blood had dissipated, taking with it every soul that had been immolated in the preceding battle, with a single exception: Thanatos's immortal soul, still faintly glowing at the edge of the spiritual realm. Nothing else remained, but for one crucial item: a sword.

It was a black blade, plunged deep into the earth. Beyond it lay a rough, winding path shrouded in darkness and fraught with innumerable trials—a path they had mutually selected long ago. "The answer was always there," Frey continued. "The truth of this world changes nothing; it only provided us with the fortitude to tread that path."

Clinging steadfastly to the road they had chosen, Frey and Nameless closed their eyes. Radiant light burst forth from them simultaneously, re-illuminating their inner world. Their forms began to recede, preparing for the emergence of their complete, final self—the man destined to traverse the remaining stretch of the path, the one who would bring all things to a conclusion. The tragedy of the material world, the Demon King, the Mist, the First Writer—everything now rested upon his nascent existence. Both Frey and Nameless held an absolute certainty: he would not falter, for he was destined to become the supreme being, the man who never fell and never would.

All the sacrifices made, all the suffering endured, had paved the way for his arrival. And thus, the final countdown commenced. Frey, the most exceptionally talented Writer among them, the offspring of the First Writer, the architect of the most flawless world, the progenitor of Agaroth, and the one who had managed to halt the Pale Devastation. Londor was designated as the locale for his reappearance—that desolate planet where all life had been extinguished millennia ago. He was reborn, emerging from an ancient tomb, from beneath a dark lake, from the very depths of absolute void. He opened his eyes, and at long last, he had returned.