CHAPTER 885: DEATH IS THE FUEL OF LIFE

"As the old retainers of the Queen? You lost that right the moment you started walking down a path that Velouria would hate." Cayla glared as veins bulged on her neck.

Nyer was silent. He simply stared at her while maintaining his usual expression.

"Tell me Cayla, what do you hope for this world?" Nyer asked, walking towards Cayla calmly.

"What do I hope for this world?" Cayla frowned.

A question she never really thought about.

"Indeed. A world mired with all its troubles, its imperfections. Its... parasites. What do you hope for this world?" Nyer asked.

Flicking his fingers, the fog obscuring Cayla’s view disappeared with a simple gust and the world around them revealed itself to her.

Her pupils constricted.

This wasn’t where she was before. In the time that it took for the fog to dissipate, Nyer had transported her to the ruins of Ayr.

"Have you ever seen a nation as prosperous as the era of Ayr? The three religions that claw at each other, the Outer Gods that have leaked into our realm, the noble families of Extalia... Zenia especially."

"Go f*ck yourself. Talk all you want but how many of those are a result of your direct intervention huh? Outer Gods? Zenia? They wouldn’t be that much of an issue had you not existed." Cayla spat out.

Nyer chuckled and rubbed his chin.

"I may have caused them but I wasn’t the only trigger. The cogs of this world are already set. All it takes is a tiny initiator to set things in motion. Had I not struck a deal, someone else would’ve welcomed the Outers.

"Even if I didn’t create Alice, the Zenia family would’ve diverted from their path eventually. I merely took the resources available and used them to my own disposal. Better used towards a goal suitable for Ayr rather than someone else, don’t you agree?" Nyer glanced back.

It didn’t matter how calm he was acting, Cayla could tell the insanity that had been eating away at him all this time. His life was nothing but a chase towards a goal that cannot be.

"Maybe. If the circumstances are up to me, I might’ve done the same a while ago. But thankfully I don’t have to think about that. I can’t say I disagree but you know who will?" Cayla gritted her teeth.

"Velouria will. Everything you stand for right now, everything you’re doing. She’ll reject all of it."

What else can she do but to play this game that he’s set out? It’s not like she could fight him.

All she can do right now was simply converse from one person to another.

"I know. I’ve made peace with that long ago." Nyer chuckled, sitting down and looking out at the ruins of Ayr.

Gesturing for Cayla to sit down and enjoy the view, he shrugged when she rejected.

"History is a fickle thing. It’s not an accurate record you see. The winners write their version of history while the rest fade into obscurity. The original goals now defiled and modified by the generations to come.

"Did you know that in the foundation of Extalia, there was actually a nation to the west that shared the same place? The people of Extalia were actually invaders. They stole the land, planted the world tree and erased all signs of the other nation.

"You can look towards the three divine thrones. How many today still know of the glory of Ayr? How many know of the Gods’ betrayal towards Velouria who showed them favour?" Nyer asked with a bitter smile.

"I’m not arrogant enough to think that what I’m doing is for the greater good and that these sacrifices I’m forcing others to make are justified. This is simply the selfish desires of an insane man." He laughed.

"I’m glad you at least know what you are." Cayla frowned.

"I do indeed. Which is why no matter what anyone else says, no matter how you try to dissuade me using Velouria’s name, I will continue down this path. I will use the world’s resources to my own benefit. I will strike deals with the Gods, the Outers and even noble families.

"I will construct this chimeric realm if it means taking an extra step closer to the end.

"So that when the final cog of our era spins..." Nyer smiled.

"Velouria will be there to guide this world to a better future. A future where the three gods sat upon their lofty thrones cannot harm mankind no more. Can you truly say there is someone else who loved life more than Velouria?" He asked, glancing back at Cayla.

She glanced down at the ground, her eyelashes trembling as memories flooded her mind.

Velouria treasured everyone. Whether they be from the Abyss or surface, she wanted the life that struggled so hard to live in the Abyss to persist and reach happiness. She understood the natural cycle and abided by it but saved what she could.

She introduced new laws to allow for even beasts to have a chance to live as man.

She gave her everything to make this world a better place.

It was no exaggeration to say she was like a mother for those who live in the Abyss.

"And when you bring her back, you want her to see a sea of corpses that you have created?" Cayla looked at Nyer’s back with pity.

Nyer didn’t respond.

After a long pause, did he finally open his mouth.

"Death is the fuel of life. To live is to let something die as fuel. For new seeds to grow, fertile land must be provided. I don’t ask for recognition, I don’t ask to be looked at as if I’m a good person. It will hurt but I will accept Velouria’s hate for my actions.

"Because at the end of the day, I believe that what I’m doing, what I’m going to do, will lead to a better outcome.

"Tell me Cayla, can you imagine any of the three Gods leading this world as Velouria did for Ayr?" He asked.

Cayla clenched her fist. Solaris? Certainly not. That slothful god sat upon his lofty throne has no care for humanity. He simply wishes for his own prosperity and enjoyment.

Lumiria, goddess of the moon desires only entertainment at the cost of humanity. The pursuit of her own twisted love until she gets bored.

Enris will drown this world in chaos and bloodshed until she finally cultivates the blade that will end her for good. But at the end of that, a new world will not be born. Through the fires and ash, all that awaits humanity was extinction.

Then there was the fourth. The Will of the Abyss.

He desires the expansion of the Abyss yet has stopped doing so. He desires a vessel but makes no moves when Alice is close to death.

His goals, unknown.

A mysterious variable who is simply content with just watching for now.

"In reality, you and I are not so different. We will make the same choices, the same decisions. Allow me to write a scenario. Should Alice to die to one of my schemes, to one of her opponents, would you not do the same as I? Or would you seek a new host?"

Cayla froze.

"I’ve observed parts of her journey. Her close brushes with death. One of these days, that point of no return will be crossed and you will make a decision. For me, that point of no return happened when Ayr fell, when Velouria died to the betrayal of the Gods.

"So what will you do when that choice falls on your lap?"

Cayla didn’t respond.

"We stand at opposite ends Cayla. I’m a man driven insane by thoughts of the past while you are someone who desires the outcome of the future.

"Every day I remember the past. The days of Ayr when we would stumble into Kaden while he’s still cooking for Lua. The look on Velouria’s face when she made clothes for all of us.

"Even the monotonous days of Ayr are filled with such warmth. The amusement I felt when I saw the research department move locations once more because they blew up their building. All of this I still long for. Which is why I am not regret for everything I have done. Everything that I will do.

"I will persist down this path of insanity until the goal is met. And... I do not want to see you guys die. I don’t wish for any of the people of Ayr to die when Velouria’s resurrection is close at hand. I wish for you guys to see the new world."

Cayla gritted her teeth and grabbed him by the collar.

"You and Alice, you both seek the same goals. I can’t imagine a world with the other gods but I can with Alice! I can with Velouria! So why can’t you just talk and figure somethi-"

"Cayla." Nyer gently removed Cayla’s hand from his collar.

"The ideal path leads to a divergence. One where Velouria is resurrected and one where Alice continues. Being greedy for both simply means that both becomes sealed off. At that point, the probabilities of a far worst ending increase drastically.

"And for me, the resurrection of Velouria requires the death of Alice."

Patting her head, Nyer chuckled.

"Stand your ground Cayla. You, Lua and Kaden fight for Alice while I fight for Velouria. Don’t falter, do what you think is right. Let our actions prove the strength of our desires."

Turning around, Nyer walked away.

A clash will no doubt happen. The day where he has to fight Allura and Kaden once more. And perhaps...

Nyer closed his eyes momentarily.

There’s no need to falter. A single path is laid out before him. It’s not a path of glory but it’s a path that only he can take.