Chapter 1141: An Outer God’s ’Sentimentality’

Alice eventually let out a deep sigh.

Fighting a Major Idol was more of a headache than she had expected. Their authority and power rivalled that of the Apostles, possibly more.

Against someone like Kazira, Alice had some idea of what she should do. What she should prepare.

But against Oth’Zeruun?

It was complicated. The power of the Outer Gods was inherently different to the Abyssal powers of their world.

Even Eldritch energy was something she didn’t understand on the deepest level yet.

She may have simply scratched the surface of its secrets.

"There have been many times where children who have been harmed by the world have lied in front of my presence. Unfortunate as it may be, there has been some rather... undesirable consequences due to that.

"So glad I am to see that you are part of the truthful kind." Oth’Zeruun spoke with what should feel like a smile just based on the eye alone.

But without being able to see his expression, Alice couldn’t tell.

Pursing her lips momentarily, Alice wondered if she should continue her interactions with this Outer.

It didn’t change the fact that she had to stop this or else Nyer would get the information he wanted but...

That would directly pit her as an enemy against Oth’Zeruun.

[I’ll leave that decision to you. I’ll be honestly, we need far more preparation if we want to kill something like him.] Cayla had a dire expression on her face.

She was trying to work on a solution as fast as possible using all of the data that Alice had collected, her abilities and even taking into account of what they saw earlier.

Yet the Outer God’s regeneration and authority made things exceedingly difficult.

Not only that, but just from how relaxed he was, they could tell his earlier realm warping authority didn’t take a toll on him at all.

All of this was child’s play.

Of course, she didn’t doubt that a solution was indeed there.

The issue came with trying to find it.

They simply didn’t have the time.

Taking a deep breath, Alice gambled.

"Why... Did you come here?"

Based on what she’s seen thus far, Oth’Zeruun didn’t seem like the kind of Outer to desire much. In fact, they’re probably similar to Zal-Ka’Rith in some aspects where he might prefer to observe the situation than intervene.

In which case, the question now becomes why did he accept the invitation to descend.

Oth’Zeruun took a single step. The ripple spread across the world and the snowfield shifted.

A world of flames, of war.

Of destruction.

Alice frowned before pausing.

She could see an group of children dashing through the fields of tall grass.

Dried blood covered their faces but their eyes shimmered with murderous intent.

One had a wounded child on her back. His leg had been destroyed yet she continued to carry him.

"When you see a curious sight, it is only natural for one to reach out and take a look. Such is the case with me. I saw a strange being, one like us yet different all the same." Oth’Zeruun spoke, turning his head towards Alice.

"This is merely a fleeting interest. To see what this world is trying to do. And I must say...

"It is no less boring than the other places I have cast my gaze upon. But boredom does not mean cruelty. I will do nothing, I will kill nothing. I will simply watch as this world fights with itself. As I have done with other places.

"Truly. To me, you humans look all the same. No... It doesn’t matter if you are beast, human or anything in between. I cannot distinguish you from one another. In this moment, I am speaking to you, child.

"But if you come to me in another time, I will simply regard you as a new face. Someone I have yet to see, someone I have yet to converse with. It might be the same person, it might be different. ℴℴ𝘮

"In fact, you might even die the moment you step out of this place. But it is of no bother to me."

". . .So we’re only alive because of your curiosity?" Alice smiled bitterly.

Oth’Zeruun didn’t shy from the conclusion and nodded his head.

"Minor Idols are more... in tuned with their nature. They let it dictate their actions, their truth. What splits us Major Idols and them apart is that we can hold back when needed. After all..." Oth’Zeruun’s voice turned creepy near the end.

As though each word was directly inserted into her memory despite him not saying anything.

"Forget the Great Ones. Your worlds cannot even handle the decent of us Majors. Tell me, how much of my body do you think I have inserted into this vessel?"

Alice pursed her lips.

If he’s asking this question then...

"Tch... Don’t tell me it’s something like a pinky." Alice clicked her tongue.

"A pinky? Hardly. I don’t have one." Oth’Zeruun shook his head.

". . ."

Alice didn’t know Outer Gods could joke in such a manner.

"Out of my many extremities, this is but a single one. Any more than that and this vessel will no doubt be destroyed. If I wish to converse with the native species, that is hardly appropriate."

Hearing this, Alice couldn’t help but frown.

So this wasn’t even the full extent of his power. Frustration filled her mind but there was little she could do.

Without any real active authority, she lacked the proper weapons to fight him.

"So what? Are you going to destroy the world now? I can’t stop your descent can I? And I doubt a Major Idol such as yourself will bother with the squabbles of us mortals. And here I thought the different great ones desired this world." Alice sighed, flicking her finger as Ruby hovered horizontally.

Taking a seat, Alice crossed her legs.

"Why would I bother with the destruction of this world? I have no need for it. And where did you hear that the revered Great Ones would bother with this world?" Oth’Zeruun’s voice shifted.

Almost as though her statement had offended him in some degree.

"I heard it from the Minor Idols." Alice didn’t bother with lies.

Oth’Zeruun paused momentarily before shaking his head.

"Weaklings like to derive meaning from the actions of those greater than them. The Minor Idols are no different. They split themselves into factions and attempt to comprehend the movements of the Great Ones.

"A futile attempt I assure you. What kind of mind can comprehend the incomprehensible? In fact, the moment they are observed and understood. That is when the Great Ones can then manifest their power. They are beings that should forever stay outside of reach. Like the stars in the sky, they must not be allowed to fall."

"I didn’t think you would be so sentimental towards us lesser life forms." Alice rested her chin on her palm in amusement.

She had spoken with Outer Gods before but never like this.

The minor gods had their schemes and plans.

But Oth’Zeruun? He’s too powerful for such a thing. There’s no reason for him to go such a roundabout way to make her drop her guard.

If he wanted to, killing her would be easy.

"Sentiment? While the emotion is not missing from my functions, it has long fallen dormant. Seeing a child young as yourself struggle against the tides of this world cannot rouse sentimentally from its slumber within my body. Far from it. I have seen cosmic theatrics that breaks the mind in half yet this core of mine yields no reaction.

"I simply observe the life which strays far from the Origin in silence."

"If it’s not sentimentality that’s stopping you from simply extinguishing this star, then what is?" It was now Alice’s turn to ask a question towards this strange Outer God.

"Coincidence. Nothing more, nothing less. I happen to see this light first and reached out to it. Had it been someone else, perhaps they would be more inclined to extract what little warmth there is to be obtained from this world. Perhaps they would see it fit to crush it in their palm like a piece of marble." Oth’Zeruun reached out and clenched his fist.

*SHATTER!!!

With a deafening crack, the world crumbled apart as the space between the Void, Abyss and Surface was disrupted in an instant. Every single Lord felt a sudden shift in the world as the realms connected, a dread sent down their spine.

Alice, the one closest to the one causing this, had to dig her fingers into her arm to stop herself from lashing out in a fight or flight response.

Just as easily as he had destroyed the barriers, a single flick of his finger repaired the damages.

"As demonstrated."

A complicated expression appeared across Alice’s face.

Bargaining with beings like this was... the height of stupidity.

Bargaining required one to be on the same level. To sit at the same table.

When their world was nothing but a piece of marble to such a great being, how could she voice a bargain?

But even so...

There are moments when great ones take interest in a marble and play around with it.

They preserve the marble and store it elsewhere only to forget.

What Alice needed to do right now...

Was convince Oth’Zeruun to keep this precious marble under his protection so that no other Outer could involve themselves with this world.

At least no Major Idols.

"When you ask the children of different worlds the question of "who hurt you?", how many answers did you get?"

Right now, she needed to understand the bare minimum in order to propose an offer.

She had to decipher the being known as Oth’Zeruun the False Ancestor.