Chapter 202

Arc 17 - Shadowy World - Part 12

Above the clouds of Asia, Eddie flew fast to reach his destination.

He did not want to die, he did not want to stop fighting for his life, so he flew towards one person on this planet who might be able to help him.

The person he was visiting was a mere human as well, but there was something that human could which was beyond the capabilities of Eddie.

As he was flying, he thought more about his current condition.

When did it start…? And why?

Eddie knew the limits of his own body, but he did not pay attention to those limits, and now he is paying the price for it.

When I attacked the robotic monster over our world, I must have unleashed…

Eddie clicked his tongue in a muffled manner as he tried to recall the words of his dead friend.

Okay, here is your limit chart.

My… what now?

Just read the chart.

I… I uh, am, but… I don’t understand any of them. How does it work. What do these numbers mean?

…

Stop looking at me like I am sort… Anyway, doesn’t matter. Tell me.

In simple terms, if you release energy equivalent to two point two zero two times ten to the power of forty-six joules at once, your physical form will begin to vanish. And if you release energy equivalent to one point zero seven three times ten to the power of sixty-six joules at once, your energy form will disintegrate into nothingness. But even if you don’t release that much energy, you will still begin to lose--

Wait, wait, wait, which part of that was simple? All I heard was some weird mambo jumbo.

Sigh.

Can you explain it… I don’t know, in thousands? Or hundreds?

…

What?

I don’t think you will be able to understand that either.

Hmph, try me.

Two-thousand-two-hundred-two-quattuordecillion joules of energy.

…

Close your mouth, idiot.

...In simpler terms, please?

Basically, avoiding going all out. If you do, you will die.

I mean… sure, but where do I draw the line?

That’s… Hmm, let me build you an energy meter.

A what now?

Energy meter, it will inform you if you ever come close to unleashing too much. Basically it will flash a red number in your mind, warning you.

Thanks… But I don’t understand how the hell I am supposed to understand all those numbers. How much damage am I looking at?

It depends on the location, but generally speaking, if you release enough power to blow up a large star, and a bit more, you could lose your physical form, and if you manage to destroy a solar system, then… It’s bye-bye your entire life.

Wait… A SOLAR SYSTEM? SUN?!

…Why is that so surprising?

You are telling me I have enough power to destroy this many planets?!

More or less, yes. But then again, that is essentially equal to a self-destruction. At least for now, it might increase in the future, however. Or decrease. Who knows?

But… But… Solar system?!

In your fight against Reaper, the two of you released more than enough energy to scorch the planet, and that was playfighting.

I--

But don’t worry, I will always be there, so you do not have to worry about that.

Thank you.

Don’t mention it.

By the way, is Reaper stronger than me?

What do you think?

…I guess the answer is yes, then.

Indeed, he is far more powerful. And no one knows his upper limits, of course, not officially.

And you do?

Mm-hmm, I know everyone’s limits.

He… Eddie bit his lip as bitter feelings erupted within him. He looked so sad, so broken…

“Tch, damn it.”

Eddie flew over Asia and once he reached the orange lands of the Indian desert, he slowed down.

“Now where was it…” he muttered under his breath as he looked around.

He had been to this place before, but it looks all the same from the top to him, so he was confused and lost.

While he looked around, he noticed a beam of light being shot to the blue skies.

Hmm, could it be… Of course.

Eddie flew close to the beam of light and landed near it and found a thin brown man with black hair and large black eyes, wearing black robes in this heat.

“I sensed you coming, so I assumed you would be lost,” Raj spoke in a condescending tone. “Again.”

“Ah-ha-ha…” Eddie scratched the back of his head as he laughed ambivalently. “Anyway, isn’t it too hot for…” Eddie pointed at his robes with his hand. “For that?”

“It is a magical gown, a gown that protects me from any environment, including this terrible heat.”

“Wow…” Eddie was impressed.

Raj entered his small house and brought out a jug of chilly water.

He poured it in a glass and held it to Eddie.

“Thank you.”

“In any case, why did you want to meet me?”

“I am dying,” without hesitation, Eddie spoke the truth. “I have lost my physical form, this shell too will fall apart in blink of an eye, and my memories has begun to wither away.”

“Hm, that is odd, if I say so myself. Your condition, I mean. But in any case, he instructed me that if something bad were to happen and he could not be here to help, Aarin should be contacted immediately.”

“Mm, he told me the same.”

“I see, that is good. I do not have to explain how this works to you then?”

Eddie nodded.

“Great, create a summoning circle for me then.”

“Uhh…” Eddie was confused.

“Follow this please,” Raj handed him a piece of paper. “Make sure it is perfect.”

“I will try,” Eddie sucked in a deep breath and nodded. “I will try my best.”

Eddie began creating the circle and followed the instructions on the

“Are you…” in the middle of making the circle, doubt began to form deep in his heart.

“Yes,” Raj understood what he was going to ask. “She is an old ally, she taught me everything I know about the fields of magic. We fought together against the demon in the previous reality, I was her general. So, yes, I believe in her.”

To Eddie, it seemed somewhat naive, but Raj was the best option for his survival.

“I see, that is good.”

And so, the circle was completed.

“Good.”

Atop the large magical circle, Raj stood. He poured magical energies into it, activating the circle.

But immediately after, Raj moved away from the dimly lit magical circle.

“Now then,” Raj sat down on a chair and spoke in a serious manner. “Pour all of your power into the magical circle.”

"Huh?"

"Don't be so dumbfounded by the simplest of instructions, Eddie. We are traversing beyond the norm of reality; we are making contact with beings to whom we are nothing but ants. Gaining their attention is a tricky task."

"But… I have limited life force. And if I release most than something-something-joules, I will disintegrate into nothing."

"I am well aware of your limits, Eddie, my friend, but my life force will not be enough. Especially since…"

Raj looked down at his body.

"I have cancer, a cancer that no one seems to understand."

Eddie gasped loudly.

"Wait…"

"And even if they could, I would never be able to get treatment, after all, this is India, the land of the knowledgeable and the corrupt and the greedy. A poor man like me will never get the treatment he needs."

"..."

"The grim reaper will be at my doorsteps soon."

Inside Eddie's heart, even more guilt swelled up.

How could he ask a man like that to give up his life for him?

What is wrong with me?

"It seems I caught this odd cancer from being in contact with the angel."

"..."

Eddie bit his lip, causing it to bleed.

The taste of blood made him momentarily forget about the guilt within him.

"This is not the end."

"But of course, you will live. All you had to do is--"

"I meant for you," Eddie narrowed his eyes.

He left the circle, making its light vanish.

"I won't let you die."

"..."

Raj chuckled.

"I appreciate the gesture, brother, but we are both in no position to heal one another."

"Maybe not, but I can damn well try."

"You ought to retain your strength, you will need it for survival--"

"No, I will not."

"Huh?"

Eddie stood tall and mighty before the mage.

"Do you know a healing spell?"

Before Raj could reply, Eddie added, "For yourself, I mean."

"Well, yes, but… even the life of a million souls will not be enough."

"No, but I am. The life force within me is greater than a million souls."

Eddie let his skin crack as energy began pouring out of his skin.

He contained the leaking energies inside a field around him.

"Start the spell, right now."

"No--"

"PLEASE! Just… just do it. Begin the spell, right this instant."

"I will not," the mage too did not want someone to die for him, after all, he too fought for the survival of others.

"Do it or else we both die."

"..."

Eddie created a crack in the field around him.

"I will blow up like a nuclear bomb, taking us both away."

The crack grew, causing more energies to leak out.

"Da… Damn you--"

Raj sucked in a deep breath as he calmed his alarming heart.

"Alright."

Raj began the spell and Eddie poured the lifeforce of billions and trillions into it.

The healing spell was powered up, a green flame rose from the ground and covered the two of them.

Eddie understood the concept of green flames, it is a magic like no other.

However, there are always drawbacks.

So, with a heart full of worries and concerns, he shouted, "What are--"

"Don't be so shocked, brother Eddie. You forced me into a corner, and I am forcing you into a corner."

"But…"

"It's a fifty-fifty chance, a game. Inside this flame, only one of us will be healed."

But… why?

"I want to choose an ending without regrets, for both of us. Let fate decide who lives today."

And so, the magical flame covered them both but healed just one. It can only heal one.

The green flames erupted further like a volcano before exploding in every direction, covering hundreds of meters.

"It's done," Raj spoke in a faint voice. "But…"

A shadow of sadness crept into his face.

"It was I; I was the one who was chosen by fate."

Eddie breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good, good."

"But…"

"Fate chose you, and that was also my wish."

"But saving you was my…"

Eddie smiled brightly.

"I am the will of non-existent Gods, I was called a beacon of light by those monsters, perhaps my will is stronger."

The two of them knew that was a lie, but they did not say anything.

Eddie pasted a brave look on his face, but Raj could tell that deep down, Eddie was scared, scared of the end which all living things must face.

“Let us try again.”

“No,” Eddie said slowly. “For some reasons, I know that your healing spell will not work. It is as if I know what will happen, but time…”

“Doesn’t exist,” Raj added.

He clasped his palms together and closed his eyes as he recited a spell.

“What are you doing, Raj?”

“I want to perform an autopsy on you.”

“...” Eddie blinked a few times with a blank look on his face. “I am still alive?!”

Raj chuckled.

“My apologies, I should have explained myself better. Yes, you are still alive, which is good news. But an autopsy can be done, however, non-physical. I want to examine your incorporeal concept that gives you a meaning, it makes you what you are.”

Eddie frowned, "I give up."

Raj, without further hesitation, moved his palms away from each other and between them, a yellow magical circle appeared.

Eddie grunted as if he felt pain somewhere in his body, but he was not sure where. He doubted if pain were even there to begin with.

The yellow magical energy ripped apart Eddie on the deepest level, but he felt nothing different physically.

"That should do it."

"Uh?"

"I got a copy of your concept, your soul, and your body."

Next to Eddie, a magical image of his body, image of his soul's structure, as well as his core's floated.

"Aaah!"

Eddie screamed as soon as he noticed those images.

The soul, an integral part of a human body cannot be seen by anyone, was floating beside him.

For the first time in his short life, he could see the inner workings of a soul, how it operated and how it looked, and it was terrifying.

This was not a knowledge a human should have, it felt forbidden and sinful.

"Hmm," Raj thought deeply as he analysed Eddie's existence. "It seems there is something mixed into your core, something that's fastening the rate of your meta-crisis."

"Meta-crisis?"

"What you are going through right now."

"I see."

"In any case, it's very visible, as if it doesn't want to hide. The problem, however, is that I cannot analyse that… bug - for the lack of a better term."

"How do you mean?"

"It is either forcing me out or it is something which I cannot comprehend. It does not belong to angels or demons in origin, but… it does feel similar to energies from beyond our plane."

Eddie did not know he meant, but he understood one thing; whatever it was, it was bad.

"It seems to have been planted within you many years ago. Almost if it was… designed to…" Raj's voice began to fade away as he continued to speak.

Eddie hates to use his powers on those close to him, but he couldn't help but to eavesdrop on Raj.

However, it was not something he liked to hear.

"What?!" he blurted out loudly with wide eyes. "What do you mean, Raj?"

"An extra-dimensional tampering it seems. I have no proof, but I believe it was designed to react like this. It seems to have been pre-planned. But by who?"

"I… I don't know."

Eddie glanced down.

He wondered, if the Queen had something with it, but he found it laughable. He was worth nothing, so he threw away that possibility very quickly.

"Then in that case, I think I should pay another friend a visit."

"I am sorry I couldn't be of any help to you, Eddie."

"No," Eddie shook his head with a faint smile. "No, it was more than enough."

"I disagree, but I owe you more than I can ever repay."

"Well, we might all die before anything happens, so…"

Eddie realised how distasteful his joke was, so he smiled stiffly.

"W-well, I should get going now. I need to meet another friend."

"May you find the answers you are seeking, old friend."

“Thank you, Raj.”

Eddie waved with his two fingers and flew away towards the dark universe.

And so, Eddie flew to the technologically advanced world of Outox Empire, a world with a reality of its own.

Coming close to the planet, the barrier opened itself to Eddie and he flew into an advanced world of tall building, flying cars, and neon lights.

I wonder if this is how this world looks…

He ignored the bright neon lights under the dark sky and flew to the capital of the empire, which was not a gigantic floating building that reached the high heavens.

Oh right, it looked like Xiem today. Makes sense.

Every friend of Weq was welcomed into the royal halls without a question, but today, Eddie felt something off as he tried to enter the building.

Everyone was acting different, they looked almost scared, fearing something bad might happen.

Eddie glanced at the members of various races that were present in these halls and questioned what might have happened.

From the crowd, one person smiled stiffly as they welcomed Eddie into this world, “Welcome, Lord Edward, how can I be of service to you?”

“Oh, Dandavan,” seeing a familiar face, Eddie smiled brightly. “It’s good to see you.”

Dandavan, a male and female hybrid from the world of Rykl, bowed his long pineapple-like head slightly.

“If you are here to meet Weq…” they looked around uncomfortably, as if they were trying to say something, but did not know how to. “I am afraid I do not have good news.”

“What…” Eddie looked away from Dandavan with a concerned look in his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“My master tried to battle the speedster, and he… He nearly lost his life trying to avenge a friend who was slain by Rewind, but…” Dandavan looked at Eddie with confused yet curious eyes. It was as if they should know something, but they didn’t. “I do not know who was killed, and when.”

“...In any case,” Eddie did not want to talk about Nazar, so he changed the subject slightly, “Can’t you guys heal him?”

“Oh, he is healed. Just needs time to… recover, if you can understand my meaning.”

“Hm, it seems your healing devices are not that effective then?” Eddie joked.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say so,” Dandavan’s voice carried a hint of defence. They were being defensive due to finding Eddie’s joke offensive. “It’s just… we have never faced anything similar to it before, so despite the immediate upgrades, it was not perfect. But! Our lord will be on his feet in a week.”

Eddie smiled in a relieved manner.

“Oh, that’s good. Be sure to take good care of him.”

“But of course.”

Dandavan looked at Eddie uncomfortably, as if they wanted to say something.

Eddie noticed their expression sooner but did not want to intrude.

However, it began to bother him greatly, so he asked, “Is everything okay with you?”

“Oh, but of course,” Dandavan laughed forcefully. But Eddie could feel how fake it was.

“When, uh, he wakes up…” Eddie hesitated for a moment to speak his mind.

“Yes?”

“Please send him my regards and give him…”

Eddie quickly wrote something on a paper and handed it to Dandavan.

“Here.”

“Thank you,” Dandavan bowed slightly as they accepted the note. “It shall reach his hand safe. However, it might take him a while to be able to read.”

“Mm, that’s fine. You can read it for him. You can read it now too and decide if you even want to show it to him.”

“Oh…” Dandavan found themselves confused. It is the first time in their life where they heard something like this.

Weq receives many notes and letters in his life, and its will be the greatest of dishonours to read his private messages or not deliver it to him.

Eddie misunderstood their expression and chuckled.

“It’s nothing suspicious, so don’t worry. Nothing weird either, I promise.”

Dandavan nodded and read the note out loud.

“I can’t thank you enough for what you did that day, I owe you a debt I may never be able to repay. And I am sorry for the catastrophe you might face soon, I wish things ended differently, I wish the ending was better, but… It might not.”

The confused Dandavan raised their eyes, only to find that Eddie was not around. He had left long ago, flew away towards the faraway cosmos.

“Oh, Lord Edward… It can’t be.”

Dandavan was a smart person, far smarter than most, so they were able to deduce what Eddie was trying to say.

“No wonder,” they finally realised. “The illusion around him…”

Donovan rubbed their forehead in a remorseful manner, full of bitter emotions.

“He is dying…” Dandavan muttered under their breath.

Dandavan had known Eddie for years now and had been close friends since then.

They bonded over a common emotion; they both felt their glory was overshadowed by their guardian angels.

Much like Eddie, Dandavan had to learn the truth, the truth that Weq never wanted to steal their glory, just to help them.

And much like Eddie, there was nothing they could today. There was nothing they could that would save that one friend they had.

“Oh, Eddie,” a loud and painful sigh escaped the lips of this odd alien. “May you find solace in the heavens above.”

Above this planet, Eddie sucked in a deep breath - or at least the gesture of it in this dead and empty space - as he flew towards the nearby sun.

The closer he went to the blue sun; the illusion began to fall off.

The skin of a man crumbled to ashes, leaving nothing but energy behind.

In the past, he would have never even attempted to come this close to the sun, but now, it was a different story.

He was dying, and he wanted to see something.

He always used to visit the sun, sleep on it, because…

“I want to see,” in this soundless space, he spoke. “I want to understand what it feels like.”

And so, he went to the sun and laid on it.

As he basked in the heat of a star, he closed his eyes and began to dream.

❢◥ ▬▬▬▬▬▬ ◆ ▬▬▬▬▬▬ ◤❢

Present:

“Is…” King Arthur, seating near Violet, glanced down.

King Arthur knows how Eddie died, so does Ishaya, but what Violet said did not make sense.

It did not fit in with the narrative the rest of the world knows.

“That’s not how it happened.”

Violet averted her gaze, looking far away.

“That is not how he died.”

“Anyway,” she looked at Ishaya directly in the eyes. “How did you know about his secret identity?”

“He was my lab ra--”

“He worked with him in the previous timeline,” King Arthur interrupted Ishaya’s evil words.

“Right,” Ishaya rolled his eyes. “Yes, we worked together and that’s how we met. But that’s irrelevant.”

He took a step forward, came closer towards them.

“Violet, why are you avoiding the topic?”

“...”

“That is not how he died.”

“...”

“Please,” King Arthur said in a faint voice. He needed to hear how his only hope for saving the planet died.

“No.”

Violet sucked in a deep breath.

“That’s how Eddie died.”

“That can’t be right.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not,” she sighed deeply as she pressed her back against the door. “But that’s how I lost my brother. Eddie died on that day.”

She sniffed as she recalled seeing him die alongside everyone else.

“Nobody saw him die,” her voice broke. “No one.”

“Hmm, that is odd,” Ishaya said slowly. “Then… Oh.”

“The death you witnessed was of Norse God, the man with the power of Gods, the man devoid of humanity.”

“WHAT?!”

❢◥ ▬▬▬▬▬▬ ◆ ▬▬▬▬▬▬ ◤❢

??? - ????:

Planets.

Stars.

Galaxies.

Nebulas.

Black holes.

White holes.

Everything exists within me.

For I am space.

For I am time.

For I am the universe.

I have been here since the first day, and I will be here when entropy comes.

But I don’t feel fear of death.

Afterall, rebirth awaits me.

It is only natural. A part of a cycle.

It always will.

However…

I lied.

I am dying, and there won’t be rebirth.

For the angel of death stands before me.

The angel who will take everyone.

The angel who will take everything.

And…

The angel of death, who was looking down slowly raised their head.

It smiled thinly as it swung its scythe at the universe from above.

And so, the end of a space-time continuum came.

Everyone died.

Everything died.

The universe died.

『In the end, only death remains.』