Chapter 1133 Kind And Heroic Name
After the eight warriors descended to the second floor, Arthur was more at ease. He could now focus on fighting Nameless, but he needed to stabilize space first.
Jizo explained that the interdimensional space was the emptiness between realms. The universe had many layers, and the further those layers were from the center of the universe, the lower their level was. The space between those layers was too dangerous for humans to traverse it, but Nameless had no problem with that.
"What is the center of the universe?" asked Arthur after the guardian explained; as he tweaked through the tower, channeling its resources toward stabilizing the interdimensional space outside.
"According to what we know, there could only be one thing at the center, spewing creation throughout the universe: the wheel of creation."
"Then, if we keep ascending realms, we will reach it one day," said Arthur as he looked at the sky. "It might be the real reason that the gods want to get stronger without stopping. They are chasing after the wheel that will make them the one true god of creation?"
"A race to the end," muttered the guardian as his eyes danced from one point to the other, drawing runes with ease. Arthur watched him use some sort of logic to summon runes, as if summoning spirits themselves. Meanwhile, Arthur could just breathe them into existence. "I'm almost done. We can access the interdimensional space now."
"Open a portal, then," said Arthur, but Jizo shook his head.
"The easiest way to find Nameless in the interdimensional space is to exit from the point he entered. At the moment, the best place to enter the interdimensional space happens to be the second floor, where the rest of your comrades are fighting."
"I can say hi to Dorian, then," said Arthur with a smile. "Send me there."
The guardian nodded and opened a portal to the second floor. This time, it was above the walls overseeing the battlefield. Arthur walked through the portal and took a few moments to realize the outcome of this battle.
His eight warriors managed to vanquish the fallen beings using their enchanted weapons, but they could do nothing about the invasion of Nameless. The golden mana acted as a shield that protected Dorian and his army, but that was its limit.
Arthur gazed at the battlefield as the chilly wind slammed itself against the high walls. His golden eyes took in the fallen soldiers and the despair in their comrades' eyes as they carried them. This was Nameless, the true bane of existence.
Although he had mastered his wrath and tamed the madness within it, Arthur was still enraged looking at the scene. His spiritual energy burst out in an alarming amount, like an invisible pressure that engulfed the world.
Those on the ground froze in fear as they sensed a crushing presence behind him, far more alarming than the corruption. They turned to see Arthur standing atop the walls, his golden mana leaking from his body with a face full of cold rage.
"This is as far as you go, Nameless," said Arthur as he raised a foot and slammed it on the fence. "Humans will no longer live in fear of your destruction!"
Boom!
Golden mana exploded from his body like a giant flame as he soared across the sky. The soldiers stared while holding back their breaths, unable to let out a sound. As the golden sun rushed through the battlefield, a certain darkness rose to meet him.
A creature far bigger than the one before it appeared. This fallen being was at least ten meters tall, with more defined features than the ones before it. It had no bones, just a gap in existence as it pulled out a sword of destruction.
"I have been waiting for you," said a voice devoid of emotions or humanity. No one could hear it except those with a high spiritual energy, including Arthur and his comrades.
"Some would call that suicidal," said Arthur as he pulled out his dagger and infused it with the golden mana. The black dagger screamed with wrath as it absorbed the mana, which summoned crackling black lightning. "Our fight should be elsewhere."
Arthur reached the giant being and struck with his dagger as it blocked with the giant sword of nothingness. This being reminded Arthur of Osian, the previous emperor of Ilios, who offered his body for Nameless and used his powers.
Boom!
Once again, creation clashed against nothingness. The world began shaking as the entire landscape began to shift away from their clash. Dorian and the rest were sent flying by the explosion as the walls began tilting away.
The clash of creation and nothingness caused the entire world to roll away, destroying everything the forces touched. Dorian hurried to create a barrier using his artifact, but it collapsed in an instant. As he feared for his soldiers to be harmed, the eight warriors stepped forward.
"Take a step back," said Lian as he bit his thumb and summoned a giant jellyfish that began to expand with his golden mana. The jellyfish acted as a shield against their clash, rippling and negating the forces that almost killed his soldiers.
"Is he going to be alright?" asked Lillian with concern, but Joey chuckled at her question. The acting lord pinched his side and twisted, making the warrior grimace as he raised his hands in surrender. "What made you laugh?"
"Wait! Wait! You have never seen him in a fight, that's all," said Joey as sweat covered his face. Although he was a battle-hardened soldier, her pinch almost ripped his skin apart. "If anyone should be worried, it should be his enemies!"
"He is right," said the Blood Queen as she landed beside them with Sarohan hugging her blood carpet. "We wouldn't have been able to stop that creature with just enchanted weapons. Arthur is the real deal."
"Is that his name?" asked Lillian with surprise. "I like that name. It sounds kind and heroic. What do you think, Joey?" she asked before sliding her hand into his.
"Huh?" muttered the man with shock before he blushed. The rest of them snickered at his reaction, despite the fierce battle before them. "I like it too!"
The group laughed as the tension diffused from the air. Dorian stared at their confident faces, a testimony of how much they trusted Arthur and his abilities. As the dust settled to reveal the battle, the giant was arching because the black dagger sought to destroy it.
"Open the portal now, Jizo!" shouted Arthur while pushing his dagger forward, driving it through the giant. Then, a giant magic circle appeared on the ground as Arthur dove into the darkness. The change was so sudden that the group flinched and rushed forward.
"Where are you going?!" shouted Dorian with confusion as the eight dashed forward through the destroyed landscape. None of them said a word before rushing at the same time while he stood in confusion.
"Following our king, of course!" shouted Whisker as he turned with a grin. "We cannot sit idle as he fights Oblivion."
Dorian was still confused before the eight reached the same runic circle that appeared on the ground and jumped through it. Before he could comprehend what was happening, the runic circle closed, swallowing his friends.
As he stood rooted in shock, the darkness began receding from the world. It was at that moment the hologram of a man appeared before them. He had a pale face with a thin mustache. The first thing that he did was bow his head.
"I am the master of the Red Tower, the man responsible for keeping you here," said the man wearing simple attire with a sincere voice. "I apologize for dragging you to this hell, but it was a necessity."
Before any of them could object, more holograms appeared to show various worlds. Destruction filled these words, keeping nothing but a wasteland from them.
"These are the worlds that you have come from. I chose to open gates to my tower in the worlds that needed it most. Here, nothing could kill you anymore, but I have also robbed you of your freedom. For that, I apologize."
"…do you think an apology is enough?!" shouted one of the soldiers as he threw his helmet on the ground. "I spent decades in this hell because of you!"
"I had no other choice," answered the man as if he heard the soldier. "If I allowed anyone to leave, the true purpose of this tower will be revealed. This is not an excuse for the countless souls that have died in this place. But I need you to know that the world is far worse outside."
"We can decide that for ourselves," said the Lord of Westcoast as he huffed with his arms crossed. "How would you feel about being imprisoned without deciding your fate?"
"I have been imprisoned ever since the world killed my wife and daughter, captured by the desire for a brighter future for this world," said the tower master without any self-pity. "Brave men are now fighting the reason the world can never be bright and safe."