Predestination and Choices- End of Vol III

On an unknown island, a family of turtles is enjoying the summer heat with their eggs exposed on a white sand. Above them are palm trees that would occasionally create a whishing sound whenever the oceans caressed them with a gentle touch of refreshing breeze and couple that with a view of pelicans hovering above the shimmering waves of the sea, even the busiest of people will give in to temptation and dip their feet into the sand and fill their lungs with relaxing air.

Unfortunately, no matter how mesmerizing the view on the island, be it the natural vegetation or the sea creatures walking on the beach, the island is in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by endless waters.

Along the beach, a crab is poking its claws on what looks like stone covered in sand but upon closer look, it a actually is a human head buried in the sand.

One glance and anyone can assume the person is dead even without investigating how long this person had been washed away but for cultivators, they are resilient like weeds and spawn no matter how much you burn the field.

The man is none other than Clay and with the crab trying to tear the skin on his head, he finally woke up.

*huh

*puh

Clay cleared the sand on his mouth and immediately activated his Dao.

*Arggh!!!

At that moment, he felt pain all over his body including his meridians. Clay clenched his teeth and mustered his remaining Qi to retrieve three pills from his spatial rings. After swallowing them, he sat in meditative position as he replenished his strength.

Clay has no idea how long time has passed. He still recalled how smooth his travel was beginning from the time he exited Lutrania galaxy and even when he reached Ukacha Ruins. He thought he would encounter random space pirates or Seraphim Magi’s but his path had been unobstructed that he even thought that the Consciousness of the Universe did clear a path for him.

However when he finally entered the heart of Ukacha Ruins, an unknown creature swallowed his ship. It was terrifying he had to fully activate his Dao. In mere seconds, the protective barriers of the ship crumbled and in an attempt to escape, he detonated all the torpedoes which in turn created a spatial tear absorbing him in the process.

Clay knew that the beast that swallowed and destroyed his ship is part of an Immortal Level Defensive Formation. There is no need to measure its power nor what its purpose as all that matter is he is alive and the fact that he is still alive means he had been transported to where he needed to be at.

After an hour, he opened his eyes. With his strength fully restored, he looked around and spread his Qi.

In an instant, everything within a hundred kilometers had been scanned but to his surprised, he had not found a single soul except for birds and sea creatures. And one thing that caught his attention is the absence of Spiritual Qi.

Clay did not want to waste his time so he activated his wings and flew to the air and after reaching a ten kilometer altitude, he looked below and continued moving.

“Is that..”

Clay could almost not believe what he saw. Back on earth, he may not have travelled around the world but he still has basic knowledge about geography and the shape of the land masses that came to his view is Japan.

Clay poured Qi into his eyes and activated his Godly Sight to make sure he is not under illusion.

“Am I back to earth?”

He spread his Qi again to scan everything around and this time, the entire planet. As an Ascendant, he can easily spread his Qi up to 30,000 kilometers and he may not be able to detect everything in detail, he should at least be able to tell pinpoint a live person.

“Huh?”

He already confirmed that the planet is similar to earth in terms of geography except there are no humans or anyone alive but there is one “entity” and one building that came in contact with his divine sense.

Clay flew to the south. He was expecting that this “entity” would be located near his birth place but from his estimate, it should be located far north of his home approximately at Pine City

Back on earth during his first life, he was a citizen of Novus Filipinos. It was called Philippines but one hundred years after the world economy collapsed, it became part of Allied Countries of Blue Orient thereby the new name.

In less than minute, Clay had a view of the “entity” who is seated near a lake but before he could descend, the building which came in contact to his divine sense earlier captured his attention.

Clay’s mind went blank as memories of his past poured in making him remember especially those painful memories he had always wanted forgotten. And looking the white building or rather cathedral looks exactly the same as the church his ex-girlfriend consummated her marriage.

Unaware, His body felt like it move on its own and landed at the entrance of the church.

Clay knew there is no one inside but in his mind, Kirsten’s wedding started to unfold in his mind.

(Dearly beloved, we are gathered to day in the sight of god, in the presence of our families, friends.. . .)

Clay closed his eyes to clear his mind but a second when he opened them, the scene replayed again and this time, he felt like he is re-living the same exact moment. In an instant, there were people in the room and everyone’s attention is glued towards the couple at the altar.

(Marriage is sacred. I ask you to remember that love- which is rooted in faith, trust, and acceptance will be the foundation of an abiding and deepening relationship)

Clay had no idea that he just seated on the same exact spot during that tragic day. He wanted to cry and if he is truly re-living the same exact moment, he will stop the marriage. He will beg Kirsten to choose him. He will never let go even if it means being selfish.

However he knew too well that his is not real. It is a figment of his memory that keeps haunting him. And today, he realized that he never really accepted the truth until this moment. It is the reason he will never move on.

(Do you, Kirsten take Brian as your husband?)

(I, Kirsten, take you Brian, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.)

During his past life, before the priest said, “You may now kiss the bride”, he had already turned around and stepped out of the church but this time, he stood and smiled.

(I now pronounce you, husband and wife.)

“May both of you be happy.” Clay said and at that moment, the illusion played by his mind stopped and everything went to normal. He sat down again and although tears started to form in his eyes, it is no longer from agony, but of relief and gladness.

*Sigh!

Clay exhaled slowly and looked to his right. While he was drowned in his memory earlier, the “entity” he saw earlier who was seating near the lake silently approached him and sat not far from his side.

*Chirp!

*Chirp!

The church is dead silent that the sound of small birds chirping is echoing like singing choirs.

“Was it you who created this cathedral? And by the way, they call me Clay.”

“People just call me Nosfera.” The woman introduced then asked, “Do you believe in God that you came all the way here to pray, human?”

Clay observed Nosfera.

While she looked human, the colors reflected on his Godly Sight is different. Normally when looking into someone’s soul, they usually look like wiggling silver flames of varying sizes and if that person is a Dao practitioner, he would see a blue mist surrounding the soul. But Nosfera only has an endless grayish mist that seems to span endlessly.

“I believe in the Consciousness of the Universe.”

“Mh he mhe he” Nosfera seductively laughed again.

“And this Consciousness is trying to expel you out of its system.” Clay continued.

“I was hoping you’d say Yes so I’ll start praying as well.”

Nosfera looked disappointed then stood up and slowly walked towards the exit.

It was brief but Clay saw Nosfera’s overall appearance- fair white skin, red lips, a charming smile revealing to small canines, blue radiant eyes. She is wearing a fabulous knee-length dress revealing her well-endowed chest and long knees.

For the first time, Clay felt his libido moved on its own like he wanted to catch her and rip her clothes and ravaged her like a beast. However when he stood up, he immediately came to his senses.

“Stop it.”

“A strong cultivator can easily resist such simple charms.” Nosfera stopped at the entrance. Her charm is powerful that even the wind cooperated to slightly lift her skirt and tantalize Clay even more. “So my question is, why would the natives of this universe made me wait and send an insignificant ant and a human at that. Go back and tell them that I’m at the end of my patience. If they don’t release from this prison, I will have no choice but self destruct. They should know what will happen ...”

*Clank

*Clank

*Clank

At the same time, Clay took out a few High Grade Divinity Crystals and purposely threw them away.

“I was not sent by anyone. I came on my own accord.” Clay activated his Dao then continued. “Your minions call them Primea Stones and I do not know what they are but if you do know what they are, then let me tell you that I have the Veins that produced them.”

Clay does not know how powerful Nosfera is but he knew that one careless act will send him in the afterlife.

“I am willing to give it to you in exchange for answers.” Clay had already activated his Dao to its full extent.

“Are you aware that I can easily extract your soul and dest…”

“A few more inch and I will detonate the Veins.” Clay interrupted Nosfera again. During his encounter with Avash, his guards were down but his time, he had already activated his Godly Eyes and he saw thin threads of energy barely perceptible but visible on his Magical Sight. Just now, he sent out his Qi into his spatial ring and will not hesitate to implode it if those thin threads extending from Nosfera gets anymore closer. “A few answers is all I ask and…”

*Thunder!

Clay was in the middle of his sentence hoping to blackmail Nosfera when a deafening thunder exploded outside. Following that, he felt ominous spatial distortions everywhere and it is not coming from the person before him.

(What does man gain from all his labors at which he toil under the sun.)

Clay has no idea where the voice came from but in an instant, the roof of church was eroded and everything around crumbled revealing a dark and forbidding skies.

“The power of the Seal that trapped me here will be unleashed. Give me the Vein now and I will answer as many questions you have.”

(What does man truly gain after cultivating for billions of years and remain alive to ends of time.)

The voice reverberated again.

Clay wanted to know what is going on but having experienced countless life and death situation, he knew it is not a time for chitchat or negotiation. He even has this feeling that he won’t be able to escape death this time. He retracted his Qi and Dao then removed the spatial ring from his fingers and threw it towards Nosfera

“Is there a way to tell if the universe has a Consciousness that is actively influencing the lives of its inhabitants?”

*Boom!

Only a second ago, the sky was visible but similar to how church disappeared, everything was thorn to millions of pieces as the spatial distortion consumed everything. Everything went dark but Clay felt a bubble-like barrier erected on time to protect them.

“Toss a coin a thousand times and tabulate your guesses while comparing it to how it landed. Take note on the Temporal Order or what you call Fibonacci sequence as every number on that sequence when compared to your table will always be the opposite of your guess.”

(Meaningless, meaningless.)

(Everything is meaningless.)

Clay ignored the reverberating sound as he focused on what Nosfera was saying. Earlier, he was listening to a sweet a charming voice but it changed to a deep and menacing voice similar to that reverberating sound. He did retract his Qi but he can still tell Nosfera transformed into her true appearance. He was tempted to scan her but he chose to summon a hundred candle-like flames to illuminate the area.

“Once I pour my powers into this Vein, it will create a portal outside this universe. Doing so will influence your soul composition denying you of reincarnation and don’t ask me why I can’t take you with me. If you have no more questions, I will lift this barrier and give your soul a chance to escape."

Clay wanted to laugh. He thought that Nosfera is the entity being expelled and only now that he understood that both of them are actually being expelled. He anticipated the worst that he may start over but as long as the Consciousness of the Universe will stop influencing the future, he was fine with.

But from what Nosfera said, the way he will be dying right now is similar to how Midi wanted to change his soul composition for him to be thrown out. Technically, he can escape but once he gets reincarnated on the same universe, he will live the same lifetime where the universe will keep attempting to expel him.

At least he now know how to determine if there is a Consciousness of the Universe.

*Sigh!

“No, please don’t lift the barrier. It’s complicated but I don’t have time to explain. I do have one more question though if you don’t mind.” Clay calmly responded.

He wanted to curse. Any second now, he knew he will die.

Clay looked at the alien creature before him. The height is almost ten meters and its lower half is that of a snake. There is resemblance to a Kulfagar demon and ignoring the bluish glittering scales, Clay saw at least six circulation centers using his Godly Eyes.

“At least tell me you name before injecting your power into the Vein.”

“My true name is Noesellas Fermonusa Radermeara Tukanikar.”

Following that, Clay saw a blinding light erasing his existence.

Meanwhile, the 72 white spots observed within the Ukacha Ruins came alive. They are actually Avatars of Immortal Kings who used themselves as Foundation to Seal the Entity that invaded the universe.

Millions of years ago, a cultivation anomaly rose to the ranks of Immortals and prophesized the end of existence. While everyone laughed, the seven Exalted Immortals believed in the prophet and are willing to prevent the doom of the universe.

As Exalted Immortals standing at the pinnacle of cultivation, they are well aware that there is a greater existence that governs everything. And the reason they know this is because the next level of cultivation has been locked due to the unstable state of the universe caused by these two invaders. So once these two invaders had been expelled, the next path of cultivation will naturally open.

The seven Exalted Immortals had a glimpse of the future and the first invader can easily expelled, the other entity has a unique property of masking itself as a native of universe. If they meddle with Samsara, they know that they may cause unprecedented reaction from the Consciousness of the Universe so they can only stall and wait until the soul is reincarnated. If this plan fails, they will forcefully track the second entity and take actions themselves.

Today though, after 35 million years of waiting, the second entity moved into their trap without intervention.

Lord Lao, as the first Exalted Immortal to sacrifice himself is relieved the long awaited had finally come. He had already anticipated that a portal will be created and it is his duty to ensure that is a one way portal.

Lord Lao spread his Immortal Qi awakening his subordinates and as everyone rose from their slumber, they released their powers as well creating a 3-D massive runic circle. Followed by their release of power, everyone transformed into swords pointed towards the center.

“Meaningless, meaningless. Everything is meaningless.”

“From dirt we came, to dirt we return.”

IMPERIAL ASURA BLADE ARTS – ULTIMATE FORM

The massive runic circle shrank and when it compressed to the size of a finger, it exploded restoring the unstable state of galaxy signaling its rebirth.