Chapter 550 - 548:Preparation(2)

Chapter 550: Chapter 548:Preparation(2)

The place was exactly as it had always been.

Not empty. Not filled. Not loud. Not silent. Not static. Not moving. It was just Nothing!

"This place somehow feels weirder than before," I muttered under my breath.

"Well, you aren’t here on a murder quest, so you can actually learn to appreciate nothing for a while," Shaia teased.

I shook my head, deciding to get down to business.

"Old man, I know you’re here," I called out, intending to converse with the old coot, but...

"Really?"

"He’s NOTHING. If he doesn’t wish to show himself, we can’t force him." Shaia appeared by my side, radiant as ever. "Ahh... the sweet smell of nothing. It truly is nice to come stretch my legs out every once in a while," she muttered, doing some of the most seductive gestures I’d seen her do yet, but...

"Hooo... no time for perverse thoughts."

"The sole fact that you can even breathe easily now means you’re definitely calmer than earlier. I’m glad.." she smiled, pulling my hand into hers, "it will work out in the end. Trust yourself and trust us. Your parents, we’ll bring them back."

I nodded my head, a small smile on my face.

"But first, we need to get that old coot calling himself my father to show himself. Got any ideas?"

I stayed silent for a few moments, mulling it over. "I’ve got some," I answered, finally turning toward what I assumed were the inner reaches of this place? Hard to tell when you’re looking at, well, nothing.

"Old man... aren’t you going to show yourself now that I’m asking nicely? Or do you truly believe I can’t force you out?"

Silence. That’s all I received.

"Alright then, old man, you forced my hand." Saying so, I put my palm out, placing it on NOTHING, and then—

Devour....

HUMMMMMMM!!!!!

A groan like that of something old and ancient echoed through the realm as the lightless black aura of devouring bled onto the spot my palm was facing, tainting the nothingness like ink on white, and then—

Grrrruuuuuummmmmmm!!!!

Taking it whole..

"Fuck!!!" I cursed out loud as I felt the full brunt of what I’d just devoured. It was heavy and painful.

"Fuck!!! Fuck!!!! Fuck!!!!" It hurt! It hurt badly...

<<DING!!>>

<<DEVOURING IN PROGRESS....>>

My body began bloating, a feeling of oversaturation overcoming me as it felt like my existence was about to choke on a large piece of meat it had no business trying to eat at this moment.

<<DEVOURING IN PROGRESS...>>

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" I couldn’t hold it in. I just had to let it out in one form or another, for the pain was truly hellish.

"Dante.... Stop!!! You can’t!! Father’s existence is too heavy; you’ll overwhelm yourself!!!"

I ignored Shaia’s desperate calls.

If the old bastard wasn’t going to show up, then I was either going to force him out or die trying.

"Haa... foolish brat," an aged and weary voice suddenly echoed through the realm.

"Heh... ol... old bastard... finally showing yourself?"

"Haa... stop this foolishness, you’ll kill yourself."

"Not until you show yourself."

"I’m busy. Come back later."

"There’s... no ’later’, old man, I... need... need to talk to you now."

"I can’t spare the time; I am truly busy."

"Then I’ll just... take this realm... for myself..." I groaned, biting down another scream as I pushed devour to its fullest extent.

"Useless! You can’t possibly—" the old man’s voice cut off as he seemed to have felt it.

<<You have acquired <Nothing> (0.000000...000000.....00000....1%)>>

Yes. I had successfully devoured a part of the old bastard. It was minuscule and negligible, but it was there.

"Impossible.."

"Heh... old... old man... you better make up your mind... I won’t die before taking it all with me... after all... I reject the notion of my Death."

HUMMMMMM!!!!

Denial surged as my being was anchored fully into the realm around me.

Silence fell once more as I waited for the old man to move, and I didn’t have to wait long before—

"Haa... to think you’re even more troublesome than that little girl. Alright, fine. What do you want?"

"Not appearing in person?"

"Will you state your business, or shall I let you carry on with your bluff?"

"Hehehe... father-in-law, no need to get all serious. I was just missing your face is all."

Like hell I was going to let him go now. Continue trying to devour Nothing? Yea, I’ll pass; I’d rather avoid that much pain if I can.

My expression turned solemn as I finally made my intentions known.

"Old man, it’s like this...."

...

...

"...and that’s why I need your help." The realm fell silent after I finished telling the old man all that had happened.

"Father, we really need your help. Anchor is sure to notice our movement, but if you interfere, then he shouldn’t be able to go past you. After all, administrator or not, he’s still only an Elder-level manifestation," Shaia pleaded.

"Haaa... you call him ’only’ an Elder-level manifestation, yet his role is far more than just that."

"I know, father, but you’re also somewhat of an administrator yourself. After all, Nothing has a say in all of the myriad creations."

"This and that are different, my daughter. Those are merely each creation’s manifestation of nothingness. I might have some connection there, but ultimately I cannot forcefully interfere."

"Father... please..."

The man went silent for another few seconds? Days? Time here wasn’t anything to bother trying to understand, so I just waited, until eventually—

"Haaa.. fine. My hands truly are tied right now, but I’ll see what I can do. When the time is right, I’ll let you know to act, so be ready."

"That’s all I ask for, father-in-law," I smiled, grateful for his help.

"Yet... yes .. whatever you say. Now, if there’s nothing else, please leave."

"Ahh.. I see what you did there, old man—"

The old bastard didn’t even let me complete my words before sending me away.

...

...

The realm returned to absolute nothingness until the calm was finally broken by a voice.

"What do you think?" Nothingness asked, his voice echoing through the realm.

"Hmmm... this is a difficult request you have for me, old friend," another voice replied.

"Sam, you and Anchor both administrate some similar roles; it shouldn’t be that difficult for you. I would love to act, but Allness is keeping a watchful eye on me. Should I pull even a bit of attention away and focus on Anchor, he might do something," Nothingness reasoned.

"I understand your plight, old friend, but you must know that myself and Anchor do not always share the same views on things. He believes my role inconsequential since he thinks he can handle both. And as for those souls you’re talking about, I felt when they arrived, and was equally fascinated. Mortal souls, arriving within this godforsaken prison? Truly something to be studied."

"Why do you tell me this, Sam?" Nothingness cut through the chatter. "I care not for the specifics of their arrival; all I care for is if you can do what I ask."

"That’s the problem. Anchor is fascinated by those souls as well and has them under tight control. Any attempt at pulling them away will undoubtedly alert him."

"And that’s why I need you to make sure he doesn’t turn his gaze."

"It will be difficult, old friend, very difficult," the voice called Sam replied.

"Haa.. let’s not play these games, Sam. Alright, then. Consider this as me owing you a favor," Nothingness sighed wryly.

"Ahahahahaha!!! Old friend. You should’ve begun with that all this time. Alright, then, I shall see what I can do to stifle Anchor. Until then, I hope you remember your promise."

The presence belonging to the one called Sam vanished the moment he was done with his words.

"Haa.. so much for friends," Nothingness sighed. "Alright, then, son of Devouring, let’s see if you’ve got what it truly takes to pull this off."

The realm finally went silent as even the presence or lack thereof of the being left.

...

...

Back in the region of space.

I appeared with a small lunge, still reeling from the impromptu exit Nothingness had shown us.

"Haa... what a petty man," I shook my head.

"Dante? You’re back!" Clarissa chirped, pulling my attention toward her beautiful, cross-legged seated body.

"Clarissa... are you ready?" I asked, my expression hardening.

"Hoo... I am."

"Alright, then, let’s bring back Mom and Dad."

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A/N: yea, a cliff right at the edge again. Ahahah... okay, I promise, Sera and Regulus will be coming back tomorrow, but until then,

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