Soul of Searing Steel

Crack.

The sound of a world breaking echoed. As energy beyond the tolerable limit piled, the dimensions broke as if they were frozen glaciers, revealing the dazzling silver and blue runes that were behind it.

Like gears or blossoming layers of flower petals, the runes that clicked together had been the bounded field of the world the Creators inscribed to nurture the growth of the world itself. Even as they rotated peacefully within the dimensions, the cycles within Stellaris would be maintained and its World Barrier augmented, allowing what had been an absolutely normal world to grow into the state that it presented itself now.

But now, after the explosion inside the world that was comparable to the universal Big Bang itself, the Barrier of Stellaris had been pierced, while the former residence of the Steel Python—the World Inner—was revealed to the physical realm by force. One could see that the once-ordinary space was now collapsing in a chain just like dominos, dragging half of the space in the silver core as well as every combatant into the World Inner, as if they were all falling into the abyss.

Amidst the echoes as everything was falling apart and within the surge of light that emanated from three different directions, the part of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective which had reached inside to Stellaris was almost utterly destroyed. And yet it was not the end, for there was still a single speck of golden brightness in the World Inner, shining with endless radiance.

“Damn it…”

Having barely recovered from the violent backfire that almost killed him, the God of Steel who had assembled Restoration beams from thousands of worlds into a singular form leveled a glance at the enemy that had yet to be completely destroyed, before turning to glance at his comrade.

His heart promptly sank, because the situation was far from encouraging.

Beneath the Vault of Stars, the Steel Python’s eyes were tightly shut as it coiled around a single spot, its body slowly breaking into stardust while its mind was fully collapsing—the blast just now had scattered the consciousness of the World Will, which was barely being held together, and it would perhaps take more than just time to reassemble it.

[Report: Confirmation!^@c]

[Report: Survival confirmed]

On the other hand, an electronic voice filled with static and no emotion at all rang from the Triple Curtain. The warrior, however, noticed that it was only the First Curtain and the Third Curtain which answered his call, not to mention that the voice from the Third Curtain was an incomprehensible racket.

The Second Curtain—the Observer Hall and the Core Processor Hub—had completely burnt itself out in the overlocking explosion a while ago, and hence perished.

Even so, before the emotions such as sadness or anger could arise within, the warrior was left most unsettled by the movements of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective in the distance.

“It hurts…it really hurts!”

From the faraway golden speck of light, the slightly fearful voice of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective extended towards Joshua. “This is the first time after reaching this level, and it is even more serious than the encounter with the Evil Gods previously…this is a pain that I have never experienced before—so are these the emotions known as cowardice and fear?”

***

In the final explosion just a moment ago, the space that both sides dominated collided, triggering a chain reaction and a destruction that transcended even the world itself, extending back to the true form of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective in the Void beyond. Now, behind the small speck of golden light lurked the defeated in that collision, the luminous cocoon form which was even more severely maimed than both the Steel Python and the Triple Curtain as it continuously exploded and was being decimated.

If there had been anyone in the Void, they would have been able to clearly see that the part of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective that had latched on to Stellaris was so completely destroyed, that the dark alternate space was now being pervaded by the silver light that spreaded within its form, a network of energy that was extending away like a system of roots. The entity was hence forced to endure the pain in amputating a part of its body so that its waning strength would not be continuously eaten off, preventing the power of Joshua, the Triple Curtain, and the Steel Python from infecting the other parts of its body that were functioning normally.

Meanwhile, its cocoon thread tentacles were leaving Stellaris by reflex, distancing themselves from the place that could give it a taste of such terrific agony.

Even so, it was just a reflex.

“My consciousness tells me that I should back down now, to leave and get far away from you lot. There is a major chance that I would fall here if I keep fighting, and the battle against you is an absolutely foolish act, one where the loss far outweighs any gains.”

Now, the tentacles that were trying to leave Stellaris once again latched onto Stellaris under the control of a resolute will, even exerting greater strength than it did before.

“By observing all of you, I have learnt something: to face powerful foes with bravery, bursting out with every iota of strength to transcend my own limits—such is true sublimation.”

“To sublimate is not something to be gained through simple evolution and change, or just by surviving. It is not to say that only clever choices allow progress either, since the occasional foolish choices that brave the risk of death must be made. I have a feeling that if I desire to surpass that seemingly endless barrier, then you lot would be my trials and tribulations.”

The voice that could have been excited or apathetic resounded in the now broken World Inner. “I have now made my resolve, and however great the price would be or the time it would take, I will destroy all of you.”

***

Joshua did not answer in turn.

It was certainly ordinary for the enemy to possess Courage and Resolve as well. For personal ideals and hopes, even the egoistical beast—in fact, it was precisely because it was an egoistical beast, that those ideals and hope would be presented with such vividness.

At the moment, beneath the Vault of Stars of the World Inner, the Silver World had reached beside the Steel Python, which body was scattering and fading. One out of the three droplets embedded in its crown was lost and it appeared very wretched, while in the other corner of the world, the heavily maimed Ultimate Sublimator Collective was struggling to attack once again.

Bang, bang!

Then, amidst loud and powerful heartbeats, the speck of golden light along with the dark alternate space lay on its other side burst forth at once. Countless trashing cocoon threads were destroying themselves as they profoundly forced out every bit of silver strength contained in their essence. A tide shaped by self-destruction and a style similar to fighting poison with poison had actually caused a dimensional storm inside and outside Stellaris itself, with the surge of the Great Mana Tide hence deviated.

Thus, the black storm broiled! Moving its own flesh and blood in attack, the Ultimate Sublimator Collective was breaking itself apart while unleashing a ferocious blow.

Darkness hence extended anew, bent on consuming the world itself.

But that was as thing should be.

“Can you still function, Beacon of Perpetuity (Third Curtain), Probability Engine (First Curtain)?”

[Report: Damage &# (.96%, func*&￥ssible)

[Report: Damage extent is 37.41%, functioning possible.]

The vague voices responded, the static synthetic voice sounding erratic.

Even so, that will, which was still able to keep fighting, was not fake.

And that was enough.

Silently connecting himself to the First and Third Curtain’s spirit channel, just like how they had exchange fundamental information before, Joshua showed no pause—the silver world descended upon the dissipating body of the Steel Python, which was now devoid of consciousness, entering within.

After that, with Steel Strength reaching out, the warrior began to use his own strength, permeating and linking himself to the titanic form. With silver radiance spreading away without end, the body of the World Will began to solidify once again.

“Urgh…such a frightening load. So, is this the weight that the World Will of Stellaris carries? No wonder it has been sleeping all along.”

Even with Joshua’s processing ability, he felt as if time had accelerated for him in a single instant. Everything before his eyes had became immeasurably rapid, leaving only his own consciousness stagnated, with a single thought taking an untold number of years—still, as his mental network spreading throughout the Multiverse began to run on full capacity while his internal medium began transmitting information beyond the speed of light, the warrior’s mind gradually cleared.

He had now replaced the role of the Second Curtain, and began to supply his rich processing capacity to the other two Curtains. Then, he began to attempt controlling Star’s body, replacing the Steel Python’s Authority with which it governed the world through his own substantial experience.

It was just being a World Will, as he himself was one.

Gravity shifted while stars twisted. The body of the great serpent was moving once again, with cool silver patterns spreading over its scales while peerless might and radiance once again arose, standing off against the darkness that was approaching incessantly from the distance.

The death of a comrade, a terrible situation which had yet to turn for the better.

But it did not mean a thing at all.

War was the resistance between different beings with life and death being the bet, and an act with which both sides would use everything in their disposal: intelligence, strength, technique, willpower, spirit, luck, and time to decide who would come out on top.

Death was the norm, just as loss was as well. The battle in which two struggled for hope and a tomorrow was the very essence of being.

And the battle that was unfolding here and today in Stellaris was considered an ultimate one.

Ooom—

The rumble of a shuddering world echoed.

After Joshua had converged and supplied all remaining strength to his own side, flames of silver and blue ignited around him. It was the strength of a World Will unified, embodying psionic power, Steel Strength, as well as Emotion power that assembled into a dazzling illumination. Any existence that would approach that light would be instantly reduced to ashes, and if they had not been in the World Inner, leaking even a tiny fraction of such power outside would have led to tremendous dimensional tremors.

Thus, a four-armed Giant God of human form and a serpent tail arrived unto the dark world.

Shrouded in the light, Joshua could see the distant and dark dimensional storm that covered the stairs like a cloth, carrying along opaque tides of shadows, gushing towards them with the rage of a black sea.

However, there was a sign of disharmony in the dark tide.

At present, the sight beyond the golden speck in the Void could actually be seen: the once-imposing radiant cocoon encircled by the cocoon threads was now full of cracks, with most of the threads themselves being used up in the previous battle of attrition to the point that they could no longer provide cover for the true form, the scattered cracks allowing others to see inside it.

Previously, Joshua had deduced that there was a ‘Wise One form’ of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective that had yet to fully form. It would only hatch as a butterfly when it ascended as a Wise One, its insides maturing into the Wise One itself.

It was the logical idea, which was why Joshua imagined that the cracks were a vulnerable point that could help him destroy the feeble insides of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective with greater effect.

Therefore, he focused his gaze to observe the inside of the cocoon, but was stunned to find a ray of light spreading from the cocoon.

It was faint but genuinely burning.

It was the radiance of the Initial Flame.

***

Colorless, transparent, and almost seemingly nonexistent. And yet, the light which nurtured all other light was quietly burning in the heart of the dark alternate space within the giant cocoon’s body!

The fire burned, releasing light and heat. Jus as how it contrasted against existent ‘light’, the ‘darkness’ of alternate space was thus given form in layers, turning into innumerable cocoon threads, a body which would protect the Flame!

Chunks of dark alternate space existed in division like a beehive, forming the insides of the giant cocoon of the Initial Flame. If each chunk of dark space was a world, then the cocoon’s insides was very much a compact but volatile Multiverse!

“No wonder!”

Upon realizing that, Joshua murmured in astonishment. “No wonder the Ultimate Sublimator Collective could create worlds as it wished to capture Evil Gods. No wonder its true form resembles an alternate space that is capable of dominating everything!”

It was clear that the Ultimate Sublimator Collective was a creature which form emulated the Multiverse itself—it was the Initial Flame of its own body as well as its creator, and would therefore be naturally capable of dominating everything within.

There was also little wonder why it was so interested in Stellaris—for the entity itself, such an advanced but artificial supermassive realm certainly held profound value for its constitution, its refinement, and its progress to the next level.

If it really became a Wise One… the constitution of its form would most likely be nurturing the shape of a Multiverse.

As expected of a genuine beast of ego. If it had reached that threshold, it probably would no longer need anything apart from itself, and it would survive alone steadily for all eternity.

Even so, Joshua simply did one single thing, and the approaching Ultimate Sublimator Collective stopped at once.

He had approached the silver core black hole with the body of the Steel Python which he had fused with, extending a massive hand that could crush the Solar System to catch hold of its Event Horizon.

In the world-breaking collision before, the silver core black hole had fallen into the World Inner along with Joshua and the others, with both the warrior and the Ultimate Sublimator Collective losing their control over it. Later, with its body that had reached inside Stellaris completely destroyed, the Ultimate Sublimator Collective was then at a disadvantage as compared to Joshua.

However, triggering a black hole bomb was not really lethal to the Ultimate Sublimator Collective. Previously, it would have, at most, blasted it out of Stellaris and forced it give up on its invasion, but things were different now: the Beast of Ego, which was now terribly hurt, felt a clear and present threat in the face of a profound bomb that contained mass six billion times of a standard star. It was the same principle as how a robust elephant would not simply die from one hand grenade, but another bloodied elephant laden with wounds would naturally feel fear if someone holding the same grenade came too close for comfort.

But that was not a major problem, since the Ultimate Sublimator Collective had a corresponding measure prepared: should Joshua detonate the black hole bomb, he would discard its present partial form and returned to the Void, subsequently recovering by drawing energy form the Great Mana Tide before attempting another invasion after some time.

Like how Joshua could indeed use his mental network that was spread throughout the Multiverse, it would able to recharge and recover with the Initial Flame within its own body—and being the trigger of the terrible explosion, its enemy would have suffered greater harm than it did.

However, in the very moment when both paused their assault and began another standoff, Joshua, who had been quiet throughout, spoke out and questioned his enemy.

“Ultimate Sublimator Collective, why would you want to visit the Fountainhead of the Mana Tide and the Initial Flame?”

Controlling the Python’s body and connected to the Double Curtain Crown, the warrior could not speak easily as he held on to the great force, but he still curiously asked, “You clearly can exist separately from the wave of destruction washing across the Multiverse, nor would the end of time have any effect of you…I can’t imagine what reason motivates you.”

“To become sublime.”

Though clearly a foe, the Ultimate Sublimator Collective answered sincerely, “I have reached the limits of the present Multiverse, and so must study the lands of unknown that I myself cannot comprehend. It is by examining all that leaves me bemused that I would develop.”

“Moreover, fearing the Evil Gods itself would not do. I am able to feel the terrible darkness behind the Evil Gods, and I do fear that power. Even if I could really ignore the end of times and the cycles of the Multiverse, I would still have to face them on a random day after the apocalypse. Before that, many other civilizations would face them as well—the greatest ancient Evil Gods that could compare even to myself as I am now were perhaps the remains of those civilizations who had fought them, and lost.”

Watching as Joshua fell silent once again, the Ultimate Sublimator Collective laughed. “You know about it as well, and you want to fight it, don’t you? But it is too late now. We are the last, because the everlasting era of darkness is coming. None of you would succeed regardless, save for myself.”

“Still, so what if I succeed?”

Though it appeared to be laughing at itself, the Ultimate Sublimator Collective spoke with a calm tone. “The Creator of Psi, the Creator of Magic…before me, those individuals who had transcended all limits and established all those Extraordinary powers had assumed that path to challenge the Masterminds behind everything. From how things stand now, it appears that they are all dead and have failed with nothing left of them—otherwise, the Multiverse would not be such a pile of ruins, nor would I have such difficulty in surviving.”

***

While speaking, the Ultimate Sublimator Collective was charging its power and recovering strength.

It could tell that it was Joshua intention too, that after having been so extensively injured, any bit of recovery they could perform counted.

Soon, however, it was left absolutely horrified.

In the split second that their conversation ended, Joshua did not hesitate to conjure two black holes in his hand, and detonated them as black hole bombs at once with zero hesitation—just as the ergosphere of the silver core black hole crumbled with half its mass being converted into pure energy with the powerful radiation that was going amok, that insane monster hence brought along the black holes that were at semi-critical state and rushed directly at itself!

What was more, he was rapidly gathering physical mass form every corner of the Multiverse, forcefully adding to the yield of the silver core black hole bomb!

Meanwhile, on the other side of faraway dimensions and every spot where a Restoration Beam was placed…

In one massive stellar world, seven dots of divine radiance flickered. As the power of the Seven Gods were sent forth through the Void as majestic divine trails, brilliant stars rolled along space like transported parcels, vanishing into the other side where a silver luminous pillar that had expanded beyond the size of a star stood.

Within seconds, a dozen stars had filled it as if someone had been holding a funnel to forcefully pour water into a balloon, causing the size of the silver beam to expand rapidly.

One could even see that rays of flowing light that were each a Legendary champion darting through the erratic dimensions of the Void. Like machines sowing seeds, they would immediately take action whenever they came across a world with fitting conditions in their path, throwing a ‘seedling’ emanating silver light into the world before continuing on their rapid journey without pause, sowing more and more luminous silver pillars.

More than that, in every location across the cosmos, each civilization with a Restoration Beam were voluntarily moving it to a world with rich resources and ease of consumption. Every individual was aware that Joshua, the owner of the Beam, now needed help.

And that was why they were helping.

There was no generous, motivating slogan, repayment, or appeasing the feared power known as the Mycroft civilization. It was simply because they were incidentally able to do it that they came to help, like how Joshua did—aiding Stellaris just because he could.

To say nothing of civilizations, would beasts with cold blood flowing through their veins not lick the wounds of their wounded companions?

Watching as the black hole bombs streaked towards itself and was about to blow up, along with Joshua, which in its perspective was utterly crazier than itself, the Ultimate Sublimator Collective did not hesitate either. Directly severing every single one of its connections to Stellaris, it fled ever so resolutely.

Nevertheless, that was also the moment when it heard Joshua’s voice.

In that very moment, the warrior’s eyes were immeasurably bright.

“Ruins? Hardship? Is that how you see the Multiverse?”

“You are wrong.”

“The Mana Tide itself is what the Wise One of the Arcane had left behind.”

Out in the Void, by the white-hot surge of Mana Tides where Joshua’s clone had previously been, millions of massive silver luminous pillars were extracting the energy within as much as they could, causing the Great Mana Tide itself to be cut off briefly.

“The Psybugs would pacify the vengeful wills of the perished dead in the Void, restraining the lurking berserk fits of Psi, feeding and breeding through it.”

Just recently, Joshua’s clone reached an epiphany and plucked off the Psybug which had fastened itself over his head, with the creature burping in filled satisfaction—he then looked around at the countless corpses of champions from other civilizations, and then down again at the Psybug which was far larger than others of its own kind.

He could not help but sigh and clenched all four fists.

“World Wills are a creation of divine power and psionic energy. They allow life to grow well, and safeguard all those vulnerable individuals like a mother.”

In the World Inner of Stellaris, the body of the Steel Python Star that stretched across the stars was being moved by Joshua. The human form with a snake tail was pushing along the silver core black hole that was about to explode, charging towards the fleeing Ultimate Sublimator Collective—silver thunder could be seen tearing a single long rupture into the grand and dark shroud.

“Magic and elements have cultivated diverse energy lifeforms, while ether are the building blocks of small worlds, allowing even the tiniest realms to become profound. Lifeforce animates stone, soil, and steel, granting life and making creation ever so simple.”

“Though how Holy Light and Shadow changes the world is not known, there is no question that they would change the Multiverse for the better too.”

[You would claim that they had left nothing behind? You could not be more mistaken!]

[They may have failed, but they had never died—because they are here beside us. They are the stars, the air, life, and world!]

[We live in the residual warmth that the Wise Ones of old have left, existing and basking in their splendor… we are them, because we have come to be from what remained of them, standing upon their shoulders and looking out over the world. We are naturally a part of them!]

[That is reincarnation, and legacy itself!]

“Every piece of gold is a fragment of supernovas, and every atom is stardust during Creation.”

“Such is the very purpose of our lives, our intelligence and our existence: to prove that every cycle is not devoid of meaning!”

***

With the silver core black hole having been driven to its critical point by Joshua, the ripples of energy reflecting from it had completely destroyed its own ergosphere which enveloped its singularity—in other words, the inner constitution of the black hole had completely broken apart, and the supermassive black hole, which event horizon alone was the size of a planetary system, had now turned entirely into a colossal bomb that was going to explode soon.

And Joshua was carrying that bomb alone and rapidly approaching the Ultimate Sublimator Collective.

However, after it had cut off its connection with the other part of its body, the true form of the Ultimate Sublimator Collective which had remained in the Void beyond was ready to escape.

If the eruption would happen now, the Ultimate Sublimator Collective would certainly be injured terribly, but there was no doubt that the warrior himself would be hurt even more severely.

Even so, Joshua showed no expression of being worried at all. He knew that the victory of this battle was in his reach.

No matter how great the cost would be.

[O egoistic poison calling itself beast, that which had surpassed the Evil Gods. You believe that you have been dependent on yourself throughout your life, that all life in the universe would only obtain purpose by coming to serve you, caring not of the costs with which you sublimate—even so, you have existed all along in civilization, living in its grand cycle!]

[You have been created by the Robel civilization, sheltered by every Extraordinary pioneer who has lived before you. You have treaded upon the corpses of all predecessors, the Great Mana Tide, even as you pursued remains left by the Creators!]

[You are dependent on the blessings of others, and yet deny their very existence. That is why—]

[You are not a beast which has transcended beyond civilization, but an insect latching onto it!]

***

Now, outside Stellaris, silver and silver-blue radiance shone simultaneously behind the giant radiant cocoon that was about to escape. It was a four-armed Giant God sprinting away rapidly, as well as a legion of humanoids brimming with profound psionic energy and divine power, one which embodied seemingly infinite power.

“Running?!”

Joshua’s clone, as well as the Takurian Grand Patriarch and his legions who had been led there all roared when they saw what was happening. “You’re not getting away!”

Inexhaustive energy began to manifest around them, quickly assembling and peaking as Steel Strength and Divine Energy appeared and combined under the control of their wielders. A great hand that would split the Great Mana Tide itself hence appeared, so massive that there was no way to describe it—its scale was not small, even when compared to Stellaris itself!

Then, it thus pressed down at the Ultimate Sublimator Collective with its full and infinitely mighty force, embodying unlimited hate and wrath, along with unending love and resolve.

All probabilities converging, all betting chips of causality now gathered. This is the moment—all conditions for victory are ready!

“—Aaaaargh!!!”

As the violent blow that dented even the World Barrier of Stellaris reached it, the Ultimate Sublimator was caught tightly on the outer walls of Stellaris, and was actually being pressed inside the world by force.

“Damn it all!” The entity that had once attempted to invade that same world roared in rage. “All you maniacs!”

“This place is not even your homeworld. Why would you sacrifice so much, harming yourself so severely and with such certainty, just to stand up against me?! Could all of you not desire to become stronger, desire the sublime and to surpass the very boundaries of this Multiverse?!”

“Could it be that all of you actually lack a single bit of selfish nature?!”

Nonetheless, a will that was at once as icy and cold as steel but as warm as flames answered him.

“Your words are just so boring.”

“Ego, Chaos, wanting improvement, wanting refinement, and even the selfish nature are the natural instincts that are present in all living things—that being said, all of that has nothing to do with what I am about to do to you now.”

“I am here, and you are my enemy. That is why I am going to fight you, and that is all there is to it.”

“Everything about you—including your knowledge, power, details, and legacies are all mine. Those are my nourishment, because I would soon triumph over you, devour you, own you, and replicate you. You shall become a part of me, loser!”

***

[At first, there had been almost no sign of it at all.]

[Suddenly, in a place where none would expect, something had appeared. It began to make copies of itself, and gradually spread to the world beyond.]

[It then changed, from simple to complex, from gentle to powerfully hostile, from harmless to lethal.]

[It kept spreading, reaching out and becoming ever more intricate, reproducing itself with the most wondrous of techniques to consume all that existed in the world. Everything it did was for its continued existence]

[In the beginning, it was not very powerful. Still, by using a diverse assortment of resources of energy, it was able to mutate and to evolve—however, it was alone and vulnerable no matter how it would evolve. Even the greatest of their powerfully mutated individual forms could not become a permanent measure for the collective entity, which was why they would always remain a collective.]

[Moreover, they did not rely on their own power, but were adept at using the flesh and blood of their hosts, extracting from those bodies to add more to themselves.]

[When one host had been silently consumed and destroyed, they would move on to the next host, repeating the same cycle time after time.]

[In the first place, they were born unto a land of isolation.]

[A warm undersea geyser, broiling subterranean cavities, lands where elements of frost grouped together overhead, plains with dense formations of mana crystals… their earliest origins were inconspicuous places.]

[Then, it began to spread from the seas up to the land, from below ground to above ground, and eventually reaching across the entire world—it could be a continent, a planet, or the infinite universe, or even another realm beyond the Void that was more vast than the seas of stars…it would flourish, replicating itself, eventually infecting and becoming many.]

[It is something that is very common that stands out, and it is called…Pestilence? Virus? No, no…it is nothing so shallow, even if calling it that is right.]

[Either way, bearing witness to this thing that is at once common and extraordinary—]

[It is called civilization.] 

***

Lifting the silver core black hole which was now reacting to its critical point high above and transitioning between substance and energy, Joshua pushed the bursting speck of light on the passage that the Ultimate Sublimator Collective connected the inside and outside of Stellaris through!

Meanwhile, outside the world, Joshua’s clone and the Takur Grand Patriarch were also pressing the Ultimate Sublimator Collective tightly upon the World Barrier!

“Witness the virus of the Multiverse, the most fearsome and violent of pestilence, the beast which swarms towards the future as a collective—”

Joshua was beaming crazily, but in the next second, that smile was consumed by unendingly emanating divine radiance. Soon, only erratic sounds could be heard, determinedly resounding over the Void.

“Witness the power of civilizations!”

As if it were frozen colored glass, the silver star burned as it moved forth to the radiance of decimation, boldly colliding into the dark alternate space and blasting both of them into pieces.

—BOOOOOOOOM—

The thunderous rumble that shook the universe reverberated back and forth.

Thus, a great bowl of energy appeared over the outer wall of Stellaris, infinitely colossal and ever expanding.

The bursting light then devoured everything.