Chapter 439: A Weird Universe

"How is your husband doing?"

"...He'll live."

"Any news?"

"Of course there is news!"

Inside a large mansion on top of a cliff, Van was currently overlooking the horizon– nothing but the big blue sea… but no sun. There were, however, numerous faded planets littering the sky. The birds, however, that were previously just flying above the ocean completely stopped; their wings, unmoving.

Even the waves of the ocean themselves stopped as Van took a breath.

With all the things that Van had seen, it was hard for him to believe something like this would be real– multiple planets inside a ship. Earth had become some sort of tree that branched out into separate parts– a tree that was created by the mother of his child.

When… did the abnormality actually become normal for him?

It almost feels like him enrolling in Newer York System Academy was from a completely different life, and maybe it was. But at the same time, it felt like yesterday for him. He… imagined a completely different life.

He imagined he would just graduate, then officially become an Explorer along with his friends– become the best at what he does. That… would have probably been a better story for him. It wouldn't have been as eventful, but it would have been normal.

Beatrice, Harvey, Victoria, Charlotte.

Gil, Latanya, Nisha.

Artemis, Athena.

Vanya.

Van could only imagine what it would have been like if he hadn't met any of them. If instead of having the dreams of a child and joining the Academy, he paved his own path alone instead.

But then the fact remains that everything that happened to him would have always happened. It was impossible for it to have been any other way. He probably could have prolonged his normal life, but what he is was always going to catch up to him– no matter how fast he ran.

Fate.

That was the only thing that Van couldn't outrun.

Hermes, Evangeline, Azrael, and then Sage.

He was created through the images of several gods. Seraph, an Olympian, and then whatever Sage is.

Sage holds the same face as his. And he said that he was the god of this universe. He made it the way it is, separated into pockets– sending a random person from each pocket to another universe… for a second chance in life.

Maybe… he could give Van that chance? His family is here… but they have their own family now, too. Her daughter has a child– and from Gerald of all people.

Athena… once they were done here, she would have her people back. Most of the Olympians were salvaged by the Systellions.

No one… needs him. Even if they were able to make the Systellions leave or kill them, they would be left with him. This power he now had, he wasn't meant to walk with the normal people.

"..." He even thinks Athena is normal now. Whatever happened to him when his body merged with the System– it was changing him. He was slowly accepting the fact that… he wasn't human.

He thought himself a monster before, but not anymore. He just… wasn't normal.

"Do you want to hear the news, or not!?"

"..." Van then let out his breath; and as soon as he did so, the wings of the birds that had stopped waving; the ocean, which had ceased to flow… once again all began to move.

And Maria's words that have hovered in the air for what seemed like an eternity finally reached Van's ears.

"What's the news?" Van then said as he walked away from the view, letting himself fall on the soft sofa in the center of the living room.

"Pontiff Irin and Pontiff Eremiel haven't made any statement yet… but those that are in allegiance with Pontiff Tartys are calling for your head."

"So why haven't Tartys's men done anything yet? They know where we are, right?"

"...Because they can't, I already told you," Maria sighed as she sat on the sofa near the window, "By law, you did nothing wrong. Pontiffs are considered above the law and there are no rules relating to any of them– they're left out of the system. And therefore–"

"Killing one of us does not constitute a crime."

"!!!"

Maria could only stand up from her seat as someone else suddenly completed her sentence– she quickly turned her head towards the voice, only to see someone floating outside the window.

Almost like a ghost; her silver hair, flowing with the wind as she slowly floated towards the inside of the mansion. The window, however, instead of shattering into pieces, just rippled like water as the silver-haired girl passed through it.

"P… Pontiff Irin!"

Maria then quickly kneeled as soon as she realized who it was.

"Leave us."

And without even saying anything else, Maria left the room even before Pontiff Irin's feet could land on the marbled floor. It was a good thing she did, however, because as soon as Irin's feet touched the floor, the entire room suddenly turned dark; the walls, almost as if they were breathing as they throbbed with each of Irin's steps as she made her way to Van…

…who was still just casually sitting on the sofa.

"You don't seem surprised about my appearance?" Irin then said as she stood in front of Van, looking at him from head to toe.

"I'm used to people not respecting my privacy and barging in as they please," Van sighed before pulling something from the collar of his suit, the communicator that made it possible for him to contact Athena and the others. He looked at its charred appearance for a few seconds, before pinching and turning it into ash.

"Sorry, but unlike you, I still value my privacy. I'll replace it in the future," Irin said as she sat opposite Van.

"What makes you think there's a future for you, or for me?" Van sighed as he looked Irin straight in the eyes.

"Because I didn't come here to fight," Irin said as she shook her head. Her words and the tone of her voice seemed sincere; her face, however, remained completely unchanged.

"Afraid?"

"I'm not capable of being afraid," Irin breathed out, "And unlike Tartys and Eremiel, I care about the people. Well, Tartys cared, but not in a good way as you would have probably already realized."

"W–"

"Who are you?" Irin did not let Van talk as she leaned closer; her eyes, almost looking through Van's, "You're clearly not Bezios's son. His child died in the capsule."

"You already know the answer to that," Van said as trickles of electricity emerged from his eyes.

"An inhabitant of this weird universe?"

"Well, not as weird as several planets inside a round ship."

"I disagree. This universe is unusual," Irin shook her head, "There are… layers to it. It is the reason why we can't proceed to bring the Ark."

"Maybe…

…or maybe that's your sign to just leave us alone."

"Well... I am afraid we can't do that," and for the very first time, an expression could be seen on Irin's face, "That's why I have a proposition-- we will let all of the inhabitants of this universe live. It is the same...

...as what we offered them."

"..." Van then turned to look at where Irin was pointing, only to see several... people floating outside the window. Lightning and thunder, trickling and flowing through the backs of their silhouette.

"See what I mean about privacy?" Van let out a small scoff as he looked at each of the uniquely aesthetic individuals,

"Although...

...I guess the Olympians wouldn't care about that."