Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 497 - 459 Destiny

Attached Blood Cell Shadow Deposition, Leukocyte Synapse, Blood Plasma Mucus Concentration, and the mystical components of death and the Power of the Evil God constantly striving to permeate and warp the material they come into contact with reveal themselves in this lively blood.

"This is entirely my blood, in a state of full active eruption, an even more perfect state." On a microscopic level, Lyle’s path as a Rule Breaker was unfolding, and now, this blood acted like a ladder extended from a higher plane, taking the process a step further.

Lyle was growing, but why was his own blood in Loshutar’s blood artifact?

"Serio..."

In the dim space, bubbles began to appear, each like an eye, with Lyle’s reflection emerging within them. A current of air or a tide swept the bubbles to the throne, where they settled into a white figure.

Sitting on the ill-suited throne made him appear even more frail, his gentle smile healing to the heart, the edges of his white robe stained with blood.

Serio sat on the throne, robed in white, smiling at Lyle, who was dressed in the plague doctor’s black garb.

"The Power of the Evil God can twist all rules, Rule Breaker, being that exists irrespective of norms, can, of course, break free from Degonris’s seal. It’s been a long time, Lyle."

Lyle’s brows were deeply furrowed as he looked at the impassive Serio. He didn’t attack him because this was merely an illusion, a projection left by the Power of the Evil God. Omens could easily tear apart this illusion, but that would just be a release of emotions.

"It’s been a long time, Serio, have you cozied up to another vampire family? Remembering the disaster at Hamlet County, I truly sympathize with Loshutar."

The sarcasm left not even a trace on Serio’s face, which remained indifferent as if he were a deity, and inexplicably, Lyle saw another version of himself in Serio’s face.

"You can’t be as calm as he is, don’t flatter yourself," Omens’ grating evaluation made Lyle feel betrayal, and also caused the outwardly glaring Lyle to twist his mouth.

What’s going on? Aren’t we supposed to be allies against the enemy?

"Against the enemy? What enemy? He is just another us, a superior version of us."

In the midst of Lyle’s mental split, Serio responded.

"I indeed have a great affinity with vampires, but even without me, Lyle, you too would have brought about Loshutar’s downfall, wouldn’t you?"

"You are vile betrayal, I am righteous punishment, how can they be the same?"

"The result is the same, you’re still playing the game of picking sides for justice, Lyle, you really are an old hypocrite."

With a smile on his face, Serio’s quip caused Lyle’s eyes to widen once again.

It’s not that the label of hypocrite was particularly apt, but rather how Serio, the bastard of Hamlet, came to use that term.

"How do you..."

"I took half of you, Lyle," Serio’s eyes sparkled, and he looked up at the ceiling as if piercing through all obstacles to gaze at the stars, "Your body, your memories, and your reality. You come from beyond the stars, Lyle, you were originally a star."

A look of longing appeared on Serio’s face, a sudden fervor overcame his gentleness, revealing the madness truly befitting the avatar of the Evil God.

"Lyle, you don’t belong to this world, family, friends, mentors, lovers—they don’t understand the real you, but I do, Lyle, I know your reality. We are the closest to each other."

As if their roles had switched, Serio became the impulsive Lyle, while Lyle turned into the calm Serio.

"Are you done?"

"..."

"You rummaged through my memories, then went mad? I know you’re very interested in becoming an actual star in the real sense, and I understand the desire to take my place, but you stole my things and still want to call me brother, do you fucking think I’m an idiot!"

"No, you still don’t understand, our fates have already been merged together, our thoughts, our existences no longer distinguishable from each other. We will eventually become one, the incomplete parts will heal. We will become the gods of this world, the only masters." Serio said with a smile, facing Lyle’s repulsion, "I will help you, Lyle, I will help you grow to become a Divine Corpse like me, a perfect Rule Breaker, and in the end, we will become one entity, the brightest of stars."

Lyle’s face was impassive, "You’re right, Serio. I will take back what you stole from me. I will eradicate your existence from this world. I will make you suffer for all the trouble you caused in the City of Wandering. I will catch up to you, I will kill you, and you will pay the price."

"You still don’t understand, Lyle. Hatred and love are nothing compared to the profoundness of emptiness. There is a membrane separating us from the world that we cannot penetrate, we are anomalies that do not belong here. In your terms, everything you’re experiencing now is just an immersive role-play, the end is already set. We will stand at the top of the world, and everything will sink into oblivion. Everything you cling to now is but an illusory reality, futile struggles."

"Copying the Cthulhu worldview to fob me off? I’ll have you know, I’ve never been beaten in a philosophical debate."

"I know, I understand all of you, we are the same, Lyle."

"We are not the same, you fool who deceives himself and gets lost," Lyle pointed at Serio. "Our biggest difference is, I belonged to no one, but I have family, friends, my lover, and the mysteries I’m passionate about in this world. I’m wholeheartedly integrating into it. But you, you belonged to this world, and you gave it up."

"That ultimately makes us different, although we may have partially merged in the mystic studies."

"But, I have everything I love and who love me, while you’re a loveless dumbass orphan. Don’t think about turning me into an orphan like you."

Serio stopped defending himself, showing a sorrowful, wry smile. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"I will help you grow, no matter how you view everything, I will nurture you, make you as perfect as me. Ultimately, we will become one." Serio’s last words came from the bubble, and then the illusion spectacularly collapsed.

Lyle watched silently, while Nia curiously pierced each escaping bubble with her tentacles.

"Ill omen, the ending Serio spoke of."

"We will eventually merge, this is a fate you cannot resist, nor can he. Your rejection of the Power of the Evil God has given birth to me, who will take your place; the outcome is predestined, the broken parts will come together again, it is the instinct of the world. Your choices, your pricking, they’re all in vain." A black shadow crouched in the room, occasionally the room’s aura of fear caused the blood servants to emit frightened screams, "You will merge, but it does not mean that Serio will not deceive you regarding certain matters."

"So, my enemy will also go to great lengths to nurture me, maybe I should just be a waste, as long as I’m a waste, It’ll make it harder for Serio to train me."

"... Our strength will advance this process, and Serio will undoubtedly push you, compelling you to seek power, for example, by exploiting your hatred for him." Serio cared little for anything beyond becoming the Evil God, while Lyle had too many attachments, a fatal weakness, "So, you better move forward yourself, don’t let Serio push you."

"Really irritating, to have my fate arranged by a Thief."

The sinister laughter of the ill omen resounded.

"Those who venture to touch the Power of the Evil God will never end well, except for the Evil God Himself. Both you and Serio, you will not know, the tragic fate of the Blasphemers, Serio’s fate is already sealed."

"The merge is inevitable, and the will of the sole entity is also predestined."

"That is [Lyle], no matter how much Serio struggles, the one to become a deity, it’s us, this is destiny."

"Serio is already insane; he has fantasized himself into another us and will only sink deeper."

"Soon, the existence known as Serio will just become a pitiful vessel bearing our power."

"The Evil God, after all, is the ultimate existence that thrives on harming others for self-gain."