Chapter 86 The Future That'S Being Stained Black
――It's being stained.
――The future that's being stained black.
[God's Remains Labyrinth] 50th Floor――In the realm that connects to the lowest floor, in the infinite Space, "(it)" existed.
In the narrow, dark space without any light, it curled up its hands and feet like a fetus floating in amniotic fluid, swaying gently.
With a dreamlike, ambiguous consciousness, it observed with a faint smile on its lips.
Its gentle, closed eyes gave the impression of kindness to those who saw it.
That's because what it was observing wasn't something that could be seen with the naked eye.
It was originally something without form.
It was originally something that couldn't be seen.
It was originally something that shouldn't be seen.
――[Possibility Perception]
Using the power that humanity once called, it saw the "possibility of the future" separated by the ambiguous concept of time.
However, the future is always in flux and uncertain, and the farther away it is, the harder it is to see the correct scenery. In fact, it's extremely difficult to predict which of the countless futures will come to pass, even just 3 days ahead.
But that's okay.
There's plenty of time.
"(it)" will search for the future that connects to its desired future.
――And.
It perceived that many futures were being stained black.
If it defined what it sought, it would be better to simplify the visual information to increase the accuracy of [Possibility Perception]. If it found a future with higher possibilities, it would refocus on that and re-examine the world.
And the simplified possibilities could be recognized in the form of light.
The possibilities it sought shone with a bright, white light.
The opposite possibilities were shrouded in darkness without light.
In the simple "visual field" without color or shape, it perceived that many futures were being stained black.
That meant that the possibilities had been lost in that future.
It averted its "gaze" from the possibilities that revealed a hollow, empty void, like peering into the darkness of death.
It wasn't that it didn't want to see.
It was because it understood that there was no need to worry about it.
The reason it lost possibilities is that the copies of itself that it sent into the maze were defeated. As it reduced the number of its copies, which are like its arms and legs, the future started to close in. This was something that was bound to happen, or rather, it was part of its original plan.
It had many copies of itself――――no.
To be exact, its copies created even more copies――that's how it should be said. Of course, the copies it created also mixed with others.
To trick the observers, it created fake copies before sending them into the labyrinth. That's what happened.
Anyway.
Its copies and the copies they created. As they got destroyed, the paths of possibilities got cut off.
However, as long as it exists here, not all possibilities will be lost.
And as long as it's here, it can interfere with the world of modern humans.
――That's how it is.
"――――?"
It slightly tilted its head.
The split self that was created to deceive the eyes of those who created "(it)" was given immense power and bound by a [Testament (Contract before God)] to escape the contract and abandon its original body, transforming itself into a completely new existence.
Let's call it a "false angel" if you will.
The grandchild split selves created by the false angel were certainly weaker compared to "(it)" or the false angel. However, they possessed far stronger and more resilient life forces than the humans of this era.
Therefore, defeating the grandchild split selves wasn't easy. Originally, they should have received much more damage.
――Despite that.
They were being eradicated at an incredible speed.
In the [Possibility Perception] that simplifies everything into light and darkness, it's unclear what happened. However, all split selves were connected by their minds.
It salvaged the memories, or rather, the information, from the destroyed split selves.
There were those who hunted the grandchild split selves.
There were those who could hunt the grandchild split selves.
"――――."
It seems that there are still strong individuals in this era. However, there's no problem.
Even if it's a replica created by the labyrinth, the [God's Remains Labyrinth] guardian's body――[Original Priestess Lucia]'s [Possibility Perception] is incredibly powerful. Since it can perceive its own future death and avoid it, it's already difficult for "(it)" to lose.
There's only one thing left.
If it can get its hands on the "Backdoor Jobs" it left behind in this world before it was sealed away, victory is guaranteed.
――It can already see it.
The possibility of it obtaining "Backdoor Jobs" is near in the future.
And――.
"――――!!!"
"(It)" couldn't help but tremble with joy.
Just now, the false angel it created was destroyed.
It absorbed the false angel's memories through their mental connection and confirmed it.
Among them, it saw an existence that possessed "Backdoor Jobs"――and not only that, but also a Talent that rivaled Lucia's.
To its surprise, that existence awakened to the final skill set in "Backdoor Jobs" at the moment of its death.
――What an amazing Talent!! What an amazing body!!
It'll switch from this temporary body created as a guardian to that Talent-filled body.
It seemed like an easy task.
After all, the biggest obstacle was whether "Backdoor Jobs" would appear in this era. That was all.
――What great fortune.
No.
This isn't good fortune, it correct itself.
"(It)" is convinced.
Humans are still 'seeking' salvation. From it, God, even now.
That's why it sent that existence to this era. This is fate.
Ah, ah...!!
It understands. It'll save (kill) every last one of them. To fill its beloved humans (you all) with eternal peace.
"(It)" was trembling with joy, about to transfer to the new "Priestess"'s location, the owner of the newly discovered "Backdoor Jobs".
But then.
It realized.
"――?"
That future was being dyed black.
――Why? What?
It was filled with doubts, focusing its gaze on one possible future.
The possibilities were equipped with light, color, and shape, reflecting the world of the future.
And so, it saw it. The future where it would be erased.
――Why? What?
("It"), who had obtained the "Priestess", was supposed to be the most complete existence in the world....
It was filled with doubts, searching for other possibilities. As it peeked into the future where it had obtained the "Priestess"'s body――.
Erasure. Erasure. Erasure. Erasure. Erasure. Erasure――.
In every possible future, it saw a future where it would be killed by a single man.
A man with an expression driven by hatred and rage, crying as he swung his sword.
A man who had transformed his own body into a [God's Body], undergoing an absurd strengthening that even the heroes of old had never attempted, to fight.
The ending was always the same.
The man would destroy the "Priestess"'s body, along with "(it)", and "(it)"'s consciousness would disappear.
The man, who had finished the battle, would pay the price for his excessive strengthening, his body crumbling to dust and perishing. It was a terrifying death, unlike any human's.
――What is this guy...?
"(it)" couldn't help but feel shaken.
In a sense, gods are immortal. As long as humanity exists, they will never perish.
However, the "(it)" that was once called the "Evil God" was different.
Even if "(it)" was destroyed, its divine authority as the "Highest God" would be reborn in the "God Realm". But the reborn divine authority would no longer be "(it)". The current one, who had changed according to humanity's true wishes, would be lost forever.
But, still.
Normally, there shouldn't be a human who could destroy a god's vessel. So, this was an impossible future.
――But, what is this guy...?
――Something's off. Something's strange.
"(it)" used [Possibility Perception] to explore the man's possibilities.
Possibility isn't just about the future. It's also about the past that has already passed, or the worlds that weren't selected. [Possibility Perception] can perceive those things.
It sees the man's past, or the possibilities that could have been.
And it's shocked again.
――Why does he exist?
The man's possibilities were supposed to be crushed in the recent stampede in [Holy City of Necronia].
No, the possibility of even surviving until the stampede was like a thin thread, barely perceptible. That means the possibility of dying before that was extremely high.
It's too little.
The possibility of this man surviving until now.
If it had to compare that tiny possibility, it's like saying "a meteor hits you on the head and kills you"――it's a possibility, but in reality, it's not worth considering, an extremely low probability. And yet, he's managed to slip through it multiple times in his short life.
So, it's impossible for someone like him to exist.
It's strange that he hasn't died yet.
From "(it)" perspective, the man is a fleeting, ambiguous existence like a dream or a ghost. And yet, he strongly interferes with "(it)"'s future.
The man doesn't seem to have any special karma.
He's just an ordinary, unremarkable human.
In fact, in the Jobs System, he's considered to be extremely lacking in talent.
And yet, it senses an unnatural feeling, as if he's being influenced by something.
He's a person who shouldn't be alive now.
Like a dead person. Like an undead. Like a ghost.
An existence that shouldn't exist is staining "(it)"'s future possibilities black.
"――――!!!"
It shudder at the eerie feeling.
"(It)" wants to prioritize its own preservation and erase the man's existence right now.
It holds a pure, unadulterated killing intent, free from any mixed emotions, to escape the danger of death.
Those who think they created "(it)" by chance call it 'Ipsissimus', but it's no joke.
――If "death" were to take form, it would be an unreasonable existence like this man.
"(It)" searched desperately.
It's easy to get the "Priestess's" physical body. However, it would be meaningless if it were to be destroyed in the process.
It needed a future where it could obtain the "Priestess's" physical body and the man would die as well.
――And then, it found it.
It was overjoyed.
It wasn't a difficult future to achieve.
No big deal. Even if "(it)" didn't do anything, that future would naturally come to pass.
Because there were still others who sought the same future as "(it)".
It finally understood.
It wasn't pleasant to be manipulated by others, but by seeing the possibilities of the future, it could finally realize that it was moving cleverly. That's why the path to that future was solid.
It'll give it a genuine compliment.
"――――!!"
With a bright smile, "(it)" spread its wings.
Pure white wings, 6 to 12 feathers wide.
From the narrow space where the wings were folded like a cocoon, "(it)" revealed its form.
If someone who had seen a false angel were present, they would be shocked.
It's not a monster made of red-black liquid like a false angel. However, its shape was identical to a false angel's.
A young and beautiful woman's figure. Her white, smooth naked body was illuminated by the light from below, shining brightly. Her facial features were doll-like, yet gave off a gentle, maternal impression. Her long, silver hair, like the moon's light, flowed in the windless air.
She opened her eyes, lined with silver eyelashes.
Her golden pupils, filled with a compassionate emotion, gazed downward.
There, a huge, blue-glowing sphere existed. It was the planet that nurtured all life.
Of course, it wasn't the real thing. Except for a tiny part the size of a bean, it was just an intangible illusion created by the labyrinth.
But even so, "(it)" gazed at it with compassion.
From a height that allowed it to see the entire planet, far above the sky.
Someday, in a not-too-distant future, this illusion would become humanity's paradise――.
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