Will of chaos - Chapter 1988 1988: Cap 1983: Training with Cortana...
Pov Ibuki:
I was sitting in a bar in a floating city. This world itself was untouched by all the chaos created in this universe, a safe haven with over 700 layers of defense surrounding it.
“So… he woke up…?” (me)
“Yes.” (Kira)
“Have you made a decision yet?” (me)
“I’ve already said what I needed to…” (Diana)
“Things aren’t that simple.” (Érica)
“…” (Karina)
I looked around; everyone was present, except for Freya, who is always with Zenos.
Only we were there. We sent everyone away for the second meeting in two days because the first meeting had become a little too heated, almost starting a fight between all of us.
The reason for the meeting was simple: the soul of Zenos’s former mother. Everyone has varying opinions about it and how to resolve this.
Out of concern for Zenos, Érica had hidden a spell in that coffin to spy on what he was doing there. No one wanted to be caught off guard again, but we didn’t expect his encounter with her to unleash such overwhelming emotions.
“That woman is a coward, I won’t accept someone like that by my side!” (Diana)
“We can’t deny her love, it’s become almost unhealthy.” (Kira)
“She doesn’t even compare to Lilith or Niryna.” (me)
“They’re both insane at their core, trying to compare them to anyone is impossible.” (Kira)
“You’re thinking wrong, stop thinking about yourselves and think about him. If he really didn’t care about her, then he wouldn’t have had such an extreme reaction.” (Érica)
“She abandoned him out of fear!” (Diana)
“If any woman from the tribe did something like that, she would be killed on the spot. This kind of cowardice that puts her own offspring at risk is inexcusable!!” (Diana)
“They were just humans, and in their society there was no kind of power, there were no other races, and perhaps even the Gods there didn’t exist!” (Érica)
“We can’t look at it from our perspective; we need to see it from the point of view of someone from that society and, above all, try to understand their intentions!” (Érica)
“I don’t care about any of that. All I want is to give him what he needs, not what he wants. Zenos has already made a decision in his heart; I know that.” (me)
Everyone was arguing once again, with the loudest voices being Diana’s, who found the woman hateful, and Érica’s, who tried to understand the woman before judging her and argued against Diana’s prejudiced approach. Kira seems to dislike the woman for different reasons; in her case, it’s her mother who abandoned her people and lived with her even when physically disabled or ill, caring for her and teaching her until her last moments.
Kira will never approve of someone who abandoned her child, even without saying it in words, everyone here already knows what she thinks.
Only Karina remained silent. As someone connected to Zenos as his Saint, she understands his feelings better; she, like me, knows that a part of him desires to have that woman in his life.
“You all need to remember that she died. Whatever happened before her death is now in the past.” (me)
“The Zenos you all know is also completely different from his previous life. Even if his past served as a foundation for his current life, he has already surpassed or broken everything that came before.” (me)
“The same could happen to her, and she will possibly suffer more drastic changes because of her guilt as well as her self-hatred.” (me)
“I agree with Ibuki.” (Karina)
“Freya will also agree with me, so that’s 3 votes in favor, 2 against, 1 uncertain, and the last one unknown.” (me)
“Are you counting on her too?” (Kira)
“We all know how much she wants to be here, at least I respect her sincerity.” (me)
“I won’t accept her!” (Diana)
“Someone like that isn’t trustworthy.” (Kira)
“I still need to think, I can’t make a decision so quickly.” (Érica)
“Then let’s postpone the meeting again until tomorrow, but regardless of the outcome we need to get back to work afterward.” (me)
“(At least Diana and Érica didn’t start fighting again.)” (me)
I steal a bottle filled with the power of the Law diluted in alcohol and leave that place, descending into the paradisiacal city below where an Ascended being with 4 pairs of wings approaches me.
“Nothing again?” (Arlan)
“No, Diana and Erica have opposing views.” (Me)
“My wives are like that sometimes too… don’t worry, they’ll reach a consensus.” (Arlan)
“Where is Valius?” (Me)
“He’s back by Urd’s side, even without saying anything, he’s still clinging to her to redeem what we did in the past.” (Arlan)
“Not everyone is like me, letting life take its course; I also have a very large family to take care of.” (Arlan)
“Ever since Urd said we’re now capable of fathering children, my wives haven’t left me alone.” (Arlan)
“That happens when you have such a large number; even if a ruler can have several wives or concubines, you have thousands.” (Me)
“What can I do, I’m a man of love… hahahahahaha…” (Arlan)
“(You’re just a pervert…)” (Me)
———————–
Pov Zenos:
I was facing Cortana on a planet that had just been brought here by Sarazar, one of the planets used by Hatred.
On the planet’s surface, the smell of blood was everywhere, the earth was riddled with red roots and flows of dark energy running everywhere. I could even feel the remaining traces of the Concept of Hatred still present.
What they did on these planets was horrible. I saw Samara’s memories and some of the things the others did, but it was still disgusting how awful everything they did to create these black armored things was.
“Don’t worry about holding back, this planet is isolated from Tarzor and was an artificial construction of the Ascended, it doesn’t possess a spirit.” (Cortana)
“Okay.” (me)
Sigh
I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and try to feel the Flow Cycle that has become the veins of my existence. Just touching this power made my Aura emanate on its own while my instincts ignite.
This energy is completely ethereal and can shift between Magical power, spiritual power, Ki power, and even anything else I’ve ever had before, or a blend of them. This generates many possibilities and also demands more of my ability to control this power.
I open my eyes again and look at my hands where the Starfire ignites. My Aura, which had taken the form of an oriental Dragon around me, plays with the flames on its own as if it were a child.
“I still find the form my Aura took strange.” (me)
“An entity’s Aura is a representation of the Concept itself. My Aura can nourish everything around me, but Lena will be better at teaching you this aspect; her Aura is also alive.” (Cortana)
“What!?” (me)
“Why didn’t I know this before?” (me)
“Because she never fully released her Aura; her Aura isn’t used for combat.” (Cortana)
“Then what will I train with you?” (me)
“Your body.” (Cortana)
When she said that, she was suddenly in front of me. Her fist descended on me without causing any fluctuations in space, but as soon as it touched the palm of my hand, which I hastily used to defend myself, it was thrown to the ground, part of my power being released from me and spreading around, burning in gray fire.
“The Concept isn’t in your body; it is your body. Use it.” (Cortana)
“Surprise attack, seriously!?” (Me)
“For you, this is better.” (Cortana)
Saying this, she advances towards me. What was in her blows wasn’t colossal physical strength; it was something else. The impact from before was on my body, but I felt as if everything that composes me had been hit—my body, my mind, my soul, and even my existential spark.
She advances towards me, and her speed is ridiculous. She moved through space as if she were part of it; there were no ripples. She arrived right in front of me before I could get up. This time I didn’t try to defend; what I did was dodge her blow using my tail to pull my body to the side. Her punch hits the ground at the bottom of the crater, and all the flames that were in the surroundings seemed to be pulled downwards. There was no further change.
Her blows didn’t move even a grain of dust from the place; they only affected me and my power. It was exclusively targeted, and that scared me a lot.
“Concepts function differently, and as such, the body of a Concept, for the few who possess a body, also functions differently.” (Cortana)
“I choose what to nurture and what to kill.” (Cortana)
“So, what can your body do?” (Cortana)
“…” (me)
“(I should have chosen to train with Lena first.)” (me)
Cortana was too intense; just facing her as an opponent was terrifying, even if it was just training.
