Chapter 136: To Knowledge and Power (9)
When did this slip into my pocket…?
Before he could throw it away, the crescent pulsed violently.
Danger screamed across his senses.
'Fuck—'
He grabbed it and tried to fling it away...
But the item turned ethereal in his grip!
It was expanding into a swirling illusion-like cloud!
The cloud enveloped him, wrapping around his body like suffocating mist.
He swung his blood blades, attempting to disperse it...
But it felt like his attacks sliced into empty space!
Within seconds, the world outside grew distant...
As though he was isolated from it!
He looked around, heart pounding.
The cloud around him formed an endless void, swallowing sound and light.
His body felt numb...
This is… an isolation item.
His mind raced.
He had a vague idea of what it was.
It was an item enhanced by Celestia's [Authority of Omnipresence]...
One meant to isolate a person completely from the outside world.
Outside his prison, Celestia spoke coldly.
"The item has been activated. He'll be trapped there for at least ten minutes."
She said to Selena, her expression calm.
"However… we can't touch him either."
Miya and Raiden's eyes widened with alarm.
"Adam!"
Miya shouted, her voice echoing faintly into the cloud that swallowed her brother from sight.
"As I decree… omnipresence shall be strengthened."
Selena's voice carried an iron coldness that crushed the battlefield.
Without Adam there to use [Authority of Disconnection]...
Miya and Raiden had no countermeasure!
In the next instant, the space around them twisted.
They found themselves forced closer to Celestia.
Raiden's teeth grit as he raised his sword in defense.
Miya lunged back, ready to dodge—
But even before she moved, she knew it was too late.
It's too late…
Her thoughts echoed with a resigned bitterness.
Celestia's palm reached forward, touching Miya's shoulder.
But—
Nothing happened.
Celestia's eyes flickered with confusion as she dodged Miya's attempt to kick her away.
She tried again, her authority flaring, but Miya simply stood there unharmed.
Before she could process it further, Miya and Raiden seized the opportunity to strike back.
However—
Snap.
Celestia flicked her hands sharply.
Space twisted around them, and within an instant, thousands of meters of distance were created between the two siblings and the S-authority users.
Selena turned to Celestia, her expression dark and tired.
"You were right. Adam… he is peculiar. He possesses items and powers that rival omnipotence itself."
Celestia narrowed her eyes, listening intently.
Selena continued, her voice low.
"No… his is even more impressive. Even though I posses the ability to create any one-time power I choose, it will rival the time and mana needed to create it."
She coldly thought.
"The more absurd and complex the power, the heavier the price… yet him… despite the complexities and absurdities of his abilities and items… he faces no consequence at all."
Celestia remained silent before speaking softly.
"That's not all."
Her golden eyes flickered as she glanced at Adam's trapped figure.
"You see it now, correct?"
Selena nodded quietly. This content was first released on MV_LEMPYR.
"Yes… the existence he emits. It's… familiar. One that feels most connected to Yxthar's existence… one that rivals even the thousands of combined bodies we've acquired from the newcomers."
Celestia's expression darkened further.
"…Who exactly is your son…?"
Before Selena could respond—
A deep, ethereal tune drifted across the battlefield.
[A Deep Slumbering Tone].
The haunting melody seemed to weave into their minds, wrapping around their consciousness like a cold fog.
Celestia's eyes glazed over. Selena felt her grip on reality slip.
Thoughts whispered through their minds.
Why are we even doing this…?
What's the point…?
Existence is meaningless… there is no purpose…
We should just… die…
There's nothing worth living for anymore…
Panic struck their hearts as they realized the suicidal thoughts weren't their own.
The white-boned dragon shrieked in agony as it smashed its head against the ground repeatedly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The bone cracked with each self-inflicted blow.
Just as Celestia and Selena were about to activate their trump card abilities to escape this mental prison—
A blinding white light erupted above them.
They looked up.
From the sky, two figures descended.
One was a woman carrying staff, landing on the ground with a thud.
The other was a man who landed perfectly on both feet, his presence radiating a quiet authority.
It was Leila… and Elaric.
Elaric adjusted himself calmly as he surveyed the battlefield.
But as his ears caught the lingering slumbering tune, his pupils dilated slightly.
His thoughts felt sluggish.
His emotions grew faint, like a fading candle...
Then, he spoke softly, his tone clinical.
"Emotions are chemical reactions… induced by neurotransmitters across synaptic pathways. If the reaction ceases, then the body will simply… produce more."
As he spoke, his eyes regained clarity.
The aura around him flared as his presence grew sharp once more, immune to the slumbering tone.
He snapped his fingers with casual finality.
A thin ripple of light spread out from him, washing over Celestia and Selena.
Their eyes widened as they snapped out of the suicidal trance, gasping for breath.
Celestia's gaze narrowed as she studied Elaric's calm expression.
Selena wiped the sweat from her brow, staring lightly at Elaric.
"You're here…"
She spat, her voice low with a bit of relief.
Miya and Raiden, who had been ready to strike again, paused.
Facing all three S-authority users was far beyond what they could handle right now.
Elaric tilted his head slightly, a faint smile curving his lips.
"Yes. And it seems we'll have to leave soon."
Celestia raised an eyebrow, her golden eyes sharpening.
"Why?"
Elaric's smile widened as he replied softly.
"After thousands of years… the Second Angel's Law has permitted a challenge of authority. It seems Yxthar takes a deep interest in anything that involves the Second Angel."
Celestia frowned slightly.
"How do you know Yxthar will turn his gaze here?"
Elaric chuckled under his breath.
"It seems that being able to defend your own authority strengthens it. I've obtained a portion of Leila's prophetic abilities… I can sense his gaze approaching."
Selena nodded as she acknowledged it immediately without asking any further questions.
"Let's not waste time. The fake omnipotence seems to have cast some high-tier protection on his allies. It'll take a while for it to fade."
She paused, her eyes flicking towards Leila's unmoving form on the ground.
For a moment, a thoughtful silence fell over her.
She glanced back at Elaric, who simply stood there, looking amused by everything.
Their eyes met.
Elaric's smile remained calm, almost playful.
But to Selena… it felt terrifying.
She quickly looked away.
Celestia clasped her hands together, her voice echoing with quiet authority.
"Let us leave now."
As her words fell, countless pale hands erupted from the ground, surrounding all three of them.
The hands curled around their bodies gently, pulling them downwards as if sinking them into a deeper realm.
Within seconds, a faint dimming hum filled the arena.
Then—
In the blink of an eye, Celestia, Selena, and the white-boned dragon vanished without a trace.
Only silence remained.