CHAPTER 232: ANNOUNCEMENT

[Acknowledged. Subject: Elian Reed from Universe #150 has been renamed to the Tyrant of Will. As a Level 100 Twilight being, you can send out a declaration into the entire Crucible. Would you like to do so?]

"I thought that the Crucible had already been destroyed. Why would I even need one?"

[It has. The one giving directives to the System was Origin. Now, the system simply exists as a technology that connects and elevates every being in this universe. It will no longer force objectives or give rewards for both conquest and vengeance.]

At the System’s explanation, Elian nodded in approval. The System was truly a great and efficient tool. Apart from its desire to cause never-ending chaos, it was something that would aid mankind.

[At the moment, the only remaining administrator is Bianca Valestra from Universe #150. Should she wish to deactivate the system in the entire universe, I can make it happen.]

"Ho? I half expected you to have some sort of instinct for self-preservation."

[Dr. Magnolia gave me specific objectives with Universe #150. It was to ensure Origin died and the Tyrant of the End was stopped. Once both are achieved, I do not mind ceasing to exist. I would prefer that actually.]

Before Elian could ask, Bianca slipped her hand into Elian’s and squeezed it gently.

"I will follow your will, my love. While I am partial to the system, I know that Dr. Magnolia has long passed. And rather than continuing to cling to her ghost, I am fine letting her rest should you deem it necessary."

The Tyrant of Will knew how much Bianca loved Dr. Magnolia, as the final administrator; only she had the authority to choose. Yet rather than make the choice alone, she wanted his opinion. Her act was not borne out of dependency or weakness, but trust.

Elian took Bianca’s hand and raised it to his lips. He then kissed it tenderly as he gazed deeply into her eyes.

Communication, identification, information gathering, and even critical thinking; the system was leagues above anything mankind had developed. While it definitely would become obsolete in the future, the fact remained that at present it was something essential.

"We will leave it for now. It will help advance humanity; however, when the time comes that something better comes along, we will have them close it. Suddenly losing it now will throw the universe into chaos."

"Mhm. I understand. Once the worlds start to interact, it will be impossible to hold the peace without it."

Happy she immediately understood his point, he smiled and nodded.

[As for the reason for declaring your existence, a level 100 twilight is considered a deity-level existence. Such powerful beings cannot coexist at the same time. Thus, if you or the Tyrant of the End do not die within 100 years, this universe will collapse,] the system added.

"That seems like a long time. Why the rush?"

[The rules for Level 100 Twilight beings are different from all others. Level 100 Twilight beings are wholly immortal and have only one weakness.]

"Which is?"

[On their home world, Level 100 Twilight beings cease to be divine beings. Killing them in any other place would simply allow them to be reborn after a few years. Which means to take down the Tyrant of the End for good, you need to kill him on his home planet.]

"Which would be?"

[It is at the edge of universe. A world called Ereval. Which is at my estimates, exactly 100 light years away from Earth. Just getting there would consume the time available. If you do not leave immediately, you risk the destruction of the entire universe.]

But despite the system’s doubts, Bianca confidently rejoined the conversation.

"I will get him there with time to spare."

[There are other issues...]

Before the system could continue, Elian leaned in and kissed Bianca on the cheek. "I’m so lucky to have you..."

His wife, embarrassed, used her fingertip to make Elian face forward. "Of course you are; now focus on the discussion."

"Haha, yes darling," Elian answered playfully; he thought for a minute before continuing.

"Hmm. I see. So your concern is not him knowing but me gathering allies to fight my way toward him. The announcement would basically tell the entire universe that I am here and that they should pick me. They would help handle the fallout."

[Indeed. It is expected that the Tyrant of the End will use everything in his arsenal to stop or delay you. With only a hundred years, wasting time on small fry is ill-advised. The existence of your own faction in this universe is an unexpected boon.]

Before anything else could happen, Elian suddenly received a system pop-up.

[Job Ascension has been completed. Please note that the system can only accommodate beings below the Twilight tier. Future skills or combat assistance can no longer be gained or created.]

"Can you still send me notifications, like for stacks of Divine Invulnerability?"

[Yes. But apart from simple notifications and using the Crucible System interface, I can no longer help you.]

"That’s fine. I won’t need to use you for long anyway..."

As Elian spoke, the rust-colored metals wrapping around his body like armor began to crack. A dazzling light shone from between the gaps like the sun peeking from behind dark clouds.

The brightness was so great that those around him couldn’t bear to gaze directly at him. Like an ice floor under great weight, fissures ran deeper into and around Elian’s entire frame. Soon, the parts that remained fell off, revealing an armored physique of white.

Elian’s suit of armor shone beautifully under the sunlight. It had a pristine appearance that gave off a chivalrous presence. Strong, powerful, and regal. The Tyrant of Will’s new form caused everyone around him to kneel in reverence.

Only Bianca could remain standing as she gasped in admiration. "Oh my, how exquisite!"

He couldn’t help but smile at her honest praise: "You haven’t even seen the best part."

Elian reached for his helmet and touched a button under his left ear. A soft click hissed, then he removed the headgear completely. Fluffy, Burny, and Silent all went slack-jawed at what they saw. Fluffy almost fell to the ground.

"Elian! Y-You’re human!" Bianca cried out in surprise and joy, her tears flowing down her cheeks. But she frowned unhappily in the next moment. "But why are you so handsome?! How many women am I going to have to beat up to keep you?!"

Indeed. Unlike his previous body, he was no longer made up of Dominator and Living Metal. No, Elian’s Twilight body was fully human. His eyes no longer glowed like embers, and his skin had the same healthy glow as a regular human’s.

Black hair, deep blue eyes, and finally a chiseled jawline. If that were not enough, Elian’s new face had perfect facial symmetry. He seemed like a fictional character modeled after an ideal that couldn’t possibly exist.

Only he was real, and his power caused everyone but Bianca to shudder in fear and terror.

Ignorant of everyone else, Elian focused on his wife and flashed her his best smile. Bianca looked away and blushed a fierce scarlet. Elian made a lecherous face as he suddenly grabbed her waist and pulled her closer.

"I wouldn’t worry about that. Just bring me to the bedroom, wear something obscene, and lock the door; I doubt I would even look at anyone else."

Puffing her cheeks, Bianca turned away in displeasure, but despite her body still ascending, her entire face, all the way to her neck, grew redder by the second.

"Hmph! You horny lecher! Whatever will I do with you?"

"Mhm... I can think of loads of things... once you gain your Twilight body. We can... hehehehe."

"Stop that at once! Why is everything that comes out of your brain so lewd? We don’t even know what I will become! What if I get furry hair like a wolf!"

Although Bianca’s words showed she was displeased, her body language did the opposite. Like a leech, she glued her side to Elian’s and firmly intertwined their fingers together.

"I wouldn’t worry about that. No matter what comes out of the shell, to me you will be the most beautiful woman ever; the only one I will ever love as my wife. Hairy, tall, short, fat, skinny, I couldn’t care less..."

"..."

Unable to respond, Bianca bit her lip and looked down awkwardly. Fluffy, Burny, and Silent all rolled their eyes while panicking internally.

After all, they all just heard that the world would end if Elian didn’t kill the Tyrant of the End, yet the two in front of them couldn’t seem to care any less. Luckily, someone else could read the room.

[Uhm... Tyrant. Do you still wish to proceed with your announcement?] the system asked in trepidation.

Bianca tugged on Elian’s hand gently while whispering, "Make your announcement so we can go already. I don’t care how many of them come; none of them will touch a single hair on your head."

Bianca’s husband playfully rested his forehead against hers as he whispered in a soft voice, "I love you."

"Not as much as I love you."

Elian smiled and chanted, "For our happy ending..."

"For our happy ending..." Bianca replied solemnly.

Releasing her, Elian faced toward the sun and declared to the System.

"Do it."

[Please select a home world first.]

"Earth."

[Understood. Beginning announcement stream.]

A floating ball suddenly appeared in front of Elian; it then revealed a telescopic camera by its side and began to record the Tyrant of Will.

[You may begin.]

Elian took a deep breath, squeezed Bianca’s hand, and looked directly at the streaming device.

"Hello. I am the Tyrant of Will — once the Father of the Weapons of Valestra. I don’t ask you to forget the past. I ask you to fight for the future. I’m going to Ereval to end the Tyrant of the End. If you would save what’s left of this universe, join me."

[Warning: A Level 100 Twilight being has joined the stream. The system lacks the authority to stop his access.]

"It’s fine."

A system window immediately opened in the next moment; the one shown on it was none other than the Tyrant of the End.

[Kill me, you say? I like your grit. Then I too will answer in kind. To all Weapons scattered across the universe, converge on Earth and kill anything that lives and breathes. To those who join my armies, I shall grant your worlds peace for 100 years.]

The Tyrant of the End’s eye then focused on Elian as it glowed brighter.

[As for you, I will be waiting, Tyrant of Will. If you can even get here. Know that whatever you think you have will not be enough. And the moment you step in front of me, I will end you.]

At that moment, a fire lit up in Elian’s heart.

The time to end this nightmare had come.

And it was a fight against none other than himself.