As the memory shattered, Gaius found himself on the rocky ground. His Domain was still hanging on somehow, but it would seem that the Demon Sovereign’s words and his own despair had finally allowed him to view his sealed memories.

The demon Demigods formed a hemisphere around him, their hands blazing with light. It would seem that the earlier attack had depleted most of their divinity, but Gaius no longer desired to fight.

He could not change the hearts of others with strength alone. Demon Sovereign Asteria wasn’t wrong. Even if he put in his all here in trying to minimise the conflict, that would not affect the hearts of others. One’s environment, the world around them, were the things that could change the hearts of people. If he wanted to make true change in levels significant enough to avert certain outcomes, Gaius had to start from there.

The Demon Sovereign had won this battle, which was more psychological than anything else.

At that thought, Gaius dispersed the Domain around him. “We’re done.”

Asteria appeared a few metres in front of him. “We’re not fighting anymore? T-this Sovereign does not think he did enough damage to convince you, though. Why the sudden change of heart?”

“Maybe I unsealed a memory,” Gaius replied. “You’re right, though. You didn’t do enough damage to me. I did enough damage to me.”

“Was that a joke? Or…”

Gaius grunted. “This is not the battlefield I should be in. I can’t change the world here, not as a pawn. Thank you for the talk today. I wish you the best of luck in your negotiations. May the Wildlands find peace.”

He floated off the ground, before staring pointedly at the hemisphere around him. The demon Demigods scattered like flies at that sight, and Gaius flew through the gap.

Gaius passed through the black dome without ever looking back once. There were a lot of considerations in his mind at the moment, and as he streaked through the skies above the landbridge, a familiar voice spoke in his mind.

“You seem to have come to a conclusion. Does my…suggestion intrigue you?” Oculus asked. “Has your endless dream ended?”

“Which one?” Gaius asked.

“Your faith in people,” Oculus replied. “That they will be rational actors with a focus on kindness. Has it come to an end?”

“In a way, yes.” Gaius closed his eyes. “People change with the world. That is the way things are. I cannot change the hearts of people directly. If I want to change them, I need to change the world itself. Orb, with its emphasis on individual power, is not a utopia.”

“Therefore, if your dream is to come true—”

“—I must create a utopia myself,” Gaius completed. “A world close to Earth, one overseen by an entity who desires peace and order. Before I embark on it, however…”

“Hmm?”

“Oculus…you’ve been suggesting such an idea to me the whole time,” Gaius murmured. “You say that it’s because you’re my spiritual guide. But is that true? I stand on the cusp of a grand undertaking. I don’t want to be lied to.”

“The Abyss Sovereign needs a guide,” Oculus replied, and the sounds of parting air died at those words. “The Crying Abyss, my creators, desire an end. Despite their twisted, ugly psyche, they long for an end. But as an entity outside of karma, an existence that exists in the space between universes, they cannot be killed. However, they can be starved or drained to death.”

“Starved? Drained?”

“Yes. The ascension process for semi-divinities is what sustains the Crying Abyss, and they’re also a power source like no other,” said Oculus. “By sending me, they have embarked on a convoluted course of suicide, but it will eventually free you from your bond with the Crying Abyss…and them from their miserable existence.”

“Therefore solving the threat the Abyss poses to Orb.” Gaius shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

“Would you believe me, a floating eyeball? And your beliefs needed to be changed.” Oculus popped out of his pocket. “If you didn’t see for yourself, you would never be able to understand my words. As proof, you chose to ignore my suggestions the whole time, subconsciously blanking them out until they became a viable alternative.”

“It’s…going to be crazy, though,” Gaius murmured. “Your plan is crazy. And what I’m about to do is even crazier. If we fail, we’ll be labelled as mass murderers.”

“And if we succeed, you will have a world of peace, a utopia of your own making. It is risky. The root of Orb is the fulcrum of the absolute. You will contend directly against the gods of old.” Oculus bobbed in the air, before executing a neat twirl. “You are the Abyss Sovereign. Once you pass through Machia, others can follow. They will not take kindly to your greatest deed.”

“I know.” Gaius smiled. “I suppose the others are going to scold me, though. For disturbing their daily lives and moving everyone to a new place.”

“That’s…yeah. I’m probably screwed too,” said Oculus. “Isabelle’s going to spin me around her head fifty times or so. There’s no way you could have come up with this solution on your own, after all.”

“She’s going to scold me too.” Gaius scrunched up his cheeks. “Why do you always do everything yourself? You’re not responsible for this world!”

“Suck it up, buddy. There’s nothing else you can do save for that,” the eyeball replied.

“Are you mocking me?” Gaius narrowed his eyes. “Do you want me to hand you over to Nexus for more training?”

“…spare me?”

“Hmph. More training it is.”

As Gaius hovered above the Heaven-cleaving Fortress, he looked back at the black dome. Whatever happened next here would no longer be his concern. The Demon Sovereign and Oculus had shown him a new path, the best path.

“For a utopia of peace,” Gaius muttered.

“Just be prepared for Isabelle to pull your cheeks, though.”

“Shut up about that bit and we’ll still be friends.”