Wizard: Unlimited Profession Slots Chapter 908 - 397: The Game of the Great Ones
Previously on Wizard: Unlimited Profession Slots...
This exists in the primordial void, a space predating existence itself, where even time capitulates.
Countless paradoxes coexist in this abstract expanse, a canvas painted with contradictions.
The Transcendent Stance of the King of Absurdity embodies an incomprehensible nature.
His 'form' fluidly shifts – sometimes a paradoxical tower with infinite, spiraling stairs;
other times, a mirror reflecting the observer's most outlandish inner thoughts;
or perhaps a tome where each page contradicts the last with its inscribed truths.
Around him, innumerable 'lesser absurdities' dance like ephemeral fireflies.
Witness a drop of water defying gravity, a shadow illuminated in darkness, a bloom eternally wilting yet forever vibrant.
Concurrently, the Transcendent Stance of the King of Illusions presents a different, terrifying spectacle.
He manifests as an intricate maze constructed from myriad illusions, its walls formed by fragmented, interwoven realities.
Gazing upon him is akin to simultaneous reflection in countless distorting funhouse mirrors, each twisting a different facet of truth.
Within his illusory labyrinth, diverse historical timelines unfold:
some past events, some potential futures, and some nonexistent yet more palpable than reality.
"Elder Panadora..."
The King of Absurdity's 'voice' resonates through the void, akin to the lingering hum of an ancient chime:
"It appears my most cherished offspring increasingly resembles her own imaginings."
Though unspoken, his sentiment clearly indicated Cassandra was straying onto a perilous path.
The King of Illusions responded with a ripple of thought, fluid as mercury:
"The devourer's curse invariably manifests thus. The crux of the matter is..."
Fleeting images flickered within his illusions:
"Previously, I permitted Aiden's descent into savagery as a cautionary tale for those who follow, yet now it seems..."
"It appears humankind perpetually repeats its gravest errors."
A profound weariness, transcending epochs, tinged the King of Absurdity's tone:
"At times, I question if it would have been wiser to allow that young girl to pursue her research quietly, rather than..."
His words remained unfinished, yet their implication was starkly apparent.
Upon Cassandra's ascension, the King of Absurdity had subtly embedded 'seeds' within her very bloodline.
This influence, operating beyond conventional perception, aimed to probe the boundaries of higher breakthrough potential.
For even entities at the Witch King's level harbor aspirations beyond their current might.
Above the echelon of the Witch King lies a transcendent state known as 'Demon God.'
This is a condition of absolute liberation from material constraints, existing as pure conceptual essence.
Attaining such a realm necessitates not merely individual prowess, but an entire civilization serving as its foundation.
The influence the King of Absurdity instilled in Cassandra was intended to forge her into a 'perfect civilization shaper.'
She was meant to wield the power to subjugate other worlds and the wisdom to transform these conquests into societal nourishment.
However, the outcome now suggests the endeavor has faltered.
"Greed and wisdom are eternally incompatible paradoxes."
Within the King of Illusions' spectral projections, an ancient set of scales materialized.
One pan held glittering riches, the other, dimly lit tomes:
"Young Cassandra opted for the path of least resistance."
The King of Absurdity's form began a slow metamorphosis, transforming from a paradoxical structure into an ancient chessboard.
Each piece upon this board represented a miniature world, locked in silent, ongoing conflicts:
"What is more disheartening is her apparentforgetfulness of conquest's true objective. Plundering a world's resources? Devouring alien knowledge? These are but means, not the ultimate end."
"The true goal..."
On his celestial board, a single piece began to emanate light:
"Is to reconfigure these disparate elements, forging a new order that surpasses all preceding civilizations. Yet, her present actions..."
The pieces on the chessboard started to consume one another, until only a solitary king remained.
However, even this final monarch piece showed signs of decay, its support structure having vanished.
"Much like a famished prisoner, compulsively stuffing food into their mouth, neglecting the essential acts of chewing and digestion."
The King of Illusions' voice dripped with a sharp irony:
"Ultimately, one can only meet their demise through the sheer volume of their own avarice."
A profound quietude descended upon the two Witch Kings, lasting but a moment.
Yet, this silence itself served as a profound form of communion.
It symbolized a shared contemplation of their intricate predicament, a mutual reflection on misguided strategies.
"In that case... what of little Eve's current circumstances?"
The King of Illusions finally shattered the stillness, his tone imbued with a palpable concern.
This inquiry struck the core of the King of Absurdity's internal conflicts. As the progenitor of the Crown Clan, his sentiments towards his kin were multifaceted. A detached logic, superior to individual concerns, coexisted with an innate tenderness stemming from his role as a "bloodline ancestor." "Thus, another cycle unfolds..." The King of Absurdity’s form shifted again, this time resembling an intricate clock, yet its internal gears spun counter to their intended course: "Cassandra is currently mirroring the errors I committed in the past. Observe her actions towards Eve. The identical alteration of bloodlines, the same infusion of potential, fueled by the same ambition and anticipation." "However, she fails to grasp that flawlessness inherently contains imperfection."