Void Evolution System Chapter 1894 Aftermath [2]

The scene was not exactly as onlookers perceived it. While the light they witnessed was slightly delayed, their senses failed to grasp the true magnitude of the event; in the fleeting moment before that radiance emerged, the entire cosmos had already collapsed.

This disintegration was active and beyond simple repair. It wasn't being torn apart by mere destructive forces; rather, this was the destiny it had been moving toward since the very start.

As the Cosmic Core of the Sacred Abyss Universe, the Dark God’s demise left the universe fundamentally broken. Without its "brain," how could such a vast existence hope to survive?

Damien found himself compelled to step in, momentarily becoming the new anchor for the cosmos. The spreading light only began the second he committed to that choice.

With a sense of curiosity, he began to test the limits of his newfound authority. The universe shifted and reshaped itself according to his mere whims, granting him a level of absolute dominion he had never known.

'So this is the source of his arrogance.'

From this perspective, it was almost impossible not to believe in one's own invincibility. Yet, Damien knew it was nothing more than an illusion.

This raw power wasn't the sum of existence.

In fact, it was only now that Damien truly grasped what "everything" encompassed.

The concept of a limit had vanished entirely. His thoughts were now capable of manifesting into reality. Furthermore, he was no longer restricted by the boundaries of a human mind. The struggle of lacking the creativity to utilize his power to its peak was a problem of the past.

To his eyes, nothing remained a mystery.

Nevertheless, he had assumed this mantle specifically to understand the Dark God’s perspective.

As it turned out, such effort wasn't even necessary.

The moment he desired knowledge, the information flooded his consciousness. He witnessed the Dark God’s history, not through personal memory, but through the collective eyes of the cosmos.

His conclusion was singular and clear.

The Dark God had always been his own worst enemy.

He was the architect of his own misery, driven by delusions that had been far too powerful since his youth.

Damien noticed his own emotions were no longer as sharp as they once were. He felt a flicker of pity, but the sensation was distant and muffled.

In those early days, the Dark God was simply a sick individual. If he had received guidance back then, before he was stained by sin...

With help, he might have enjoyed a perfectly normal mortal life. However, looking out from his current position, Damien saw that there was only one solitary timeline where the Dark God chose the right path. The man was a fundamentally broken being.

Damien pondered these thoughts while he focused on stabilizing the Sacred Abyss.

Rather than rushing to forge a new Cosmic Core, he placed the entire universe into a state of stasis to facilitate his adjustments.

The only habitable world was transformed into a lush, green paradise where nature could flourish. He recalibrated the laws of reality to be more gentle, though he made sure they remained distinct from the True Void.

Ultimately, these two universes followed different paths. He had no intention of showing favoritism.

The fundamental laws were simply restored to their natural state. As the Dark God’s corruption faded, the cosmos finally reached a point of self-sufficiency.

Damien funneled Qi through the realms to breathe life into barren worlds. He mended cosmic fractures, filling the voids with fresh space and establishing an ecosystem designed to endure and prosper.

Once the work was complete, he summoned a new Cosmic Core to replace the one lost so long ago.

As stasis ended and time resumed, the inhabitants of the world finally saw the brilliance of the light. The modifications were set in stone, and the long conflict reached its conclusion.

Damien let out a quiet sigh.

'Alright.'

With the urgent crisis resolved, his primary focus shifted toward his return.

He couldn't help but wonder how his comrades would perceive him now.

Perhaps they wouldn't notice a difference at all, and things would remain as they were. Or, there was the possibility that he would appear as a God in their sight.

That was an outcome he hoped to avoid.

For those close to him, he wanted to remain the same Damien they had always known.

What benefit would they gain from knowing how vast his perception had become?

What was the point in explaining that he could see beyond their known planes, peering across the infinite stretches of the Void?

The past, present, and future of all things were laid bare before him. He finally grasped the magnitude of the world the Worldwalker had spent eons wandering.

It was a magnificent sight, a landscape that beckoned him to claim his rightful throne immediately.

Yet, he resisted the urge. He had to turn away from the Void, knowing that entering it now would mean losing himself entirely.

This was his crossroads. Now that he had reached the state of an Absolute, he needed to carve his own principles into the fabric of the Void.

His new status mattered, but it wasn't his highest priority.

His family came before all else. No power or entity could ever displace them from his heart.

With that resolve, Damien descended back into reality.

Though he stood within the Sacred Abyss, he wasn't truly in the same dimension as everyone else.

He had become a singular existence dwelling on a unique plane. To interact with others in the same space required a deliberate, conscious effort.

He wondered if this was why the Worldwalker had avoided connections for so long. Was this isolation the reason that man viewed emotions as trivialities?

Perhaps that had been true at the start of his journey.

But as Damien stepped back into the world, he realized the truth of what that man felt after becoming an Absolute was something else entirely.

He touched down on the newly verdant planet, wandering until he spotted a familiar face. Choosing to let fate guide him while he observed the world, he happened upon Thalia first.

It had been a while since their last meeting, and she had been working alongside Hestia. He thought it would be pleasant to join her and her unit on their journey back to headquarters.

That was his intent, but perhaps he had been too preoccupied with his own thoughts.

Why hadn't he noticed the problem until he was standing right in front of them?

He stood there, offering Thalia a smile and a wave, but...

...she passed right through him.

She moved through his body as if he were a phantom, totally oblivious to his presence.

And as if that weren't painful enough...

'No...'

Damien’s heart sank. An unexpected void opened up inside him. As his other emotions grew more distant with every heartbeat, that hollow sensation began to consume his mind and body. He finally understood why the Worldwalker struggled to comprehend feelings until he embraced mortality again...

He understood the profound boredom that came with being an Absolute.

For Damien, who had never faced these issues before, it was a harsh wake-up call.

He was no longer like the others.

And that reality brought with it a burden that far outweighed its blessings.