Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chapter 439: Star, Rollback (4)

Chapter 439: Star, Rollback (4)

Is that so? Sean li Arcadia, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor, asked with a calm nod after coming to a realization. I did think that things worked out in my favor quite often, but I guess this was the reason why.

Sean had always thought that he was the lucky one among his siblings, who were on worse terms with him than his enemies. There had been a time he had coincidentally avoided drinking poisoned tea, and another in which he had discovered that a lover who affectionately approached him was an assassin. Such coincidental discoveries had often happened to him. All those coincidences made sense if Taurus had helped Sean. Still, he was annoyed by the fact that he had been the pawn of Taurus, as what he hated the most was someone trying to control him.

Regardless, Chang-Sun was lost in the conversation between himself and Bel-Marduk.

I see. I understand your <Myths> now, Chang-Sun muttered to himself.

You saw my <Myths>? Bel-Marduk asked, his eyebrows twitching. Does that mean you defeated me before?

Technically.

Its strange.

Whats strange?

Your Divine Class is quite weak for someone who defeated me, Bel-Marduk said, narrowing his eyes in disbelief.

It was understandable, because Bel-Marduk had the most accurate assessment of Chang-Suns Divine Class. After all, his goal had always been to devour Chang-Sun and become an Emperor. It was strange that the level of Chang-Suns Divine Class was not even that of a Celestial King.

No, Bel-Marduk should not have been here in the first place if Chang-Sun had actually defeated him. In contrast to Celestials, who had copies of themselves in each Worldline, <Stars> were unique. Other people could replace a <Star>, but their annihilation was their final and irreversible end.

Bel-Marduks mouth curled up in a half-smirk after he came to a realization. He said, I see. You couldnt do it.

No, I chose not to do it.

No, you couldnt even think about eating me even though you and I both have <First Stars Fragments>. You always choose a more difficult path, even when an easier path is right in front of you.

Its the opposite. I dont have the slightest intention to take the same path as you people. A <Star>? Why does becoming one matter? Chang-Sun retorted with a scoff.

After knocking down <Purple Star Astrology>, Chang-Sun had destroyed <Horoscope> several times. Although he had sealed many of those Star Signs and was well aware that his Divine Class would rise if he ate all those Star Signs, he had never attempted Celestial Cannibalism.

In fact, Chang-Sun could have gathered all the <First Stars Fragments> and become a <Radiant Star> so as to exude <Starlight> that was bright enough to burn up an entire world. However, he had never done such a thing, because that represented crossing a line he could never, ever cross. If he did that, he would lose his humanity breaking the promise he had made with Cha Ye-Eun.

Ludicrous! Bel-Marduk exclaimed, sneering at Chang-Suns determination. Do you think youll be able to change anything with such a naive mindset?

Chang-Sun could be certain now. He said quietly, Youve gone through it too.

Ive gone through it so many times that Im sick of it, Bel-Marduk said, his eyes tinged with madness. How many fucking times do you think Ive gone through a time loop? You wouldnt be able to imagine it. One Worldlines law of causality would be run so ragged that it couldnt even maintain itself anymore. That wasnt enough, so I went over to a different Worldline again. If that Worldlines law of causality wore down to an irreparable point, I headed on to another Worldline!

With bloodshot eyes, Bel-Marduk gnashed his teeth. After going through countless tries and ruining just as many Worldlines, I finally realized that I couldnt accomplish anything with such a naive mindset.

Is that why you became a <Star>? Chang-Sun asked.

I couldnt do anything without becoming a <Star>!

Is that why you founded <Horoscope> and ate Worldlines?

A person cant do anything without power. Arent you feeling it yourself right now? Bel-Marduk answered sarcastically.

Chang-Sun was rendered speechless, because he was also feeling the inescapable sorrow of the weak down to his bones.

From the looks of itI guess you arent desperate enough yet, Bel-Marduk sneered.

Chang-Sun pursed his lips, getting a feeling that Bel-Marduks twisted personality was the result of an endless cycle of despair.

Im technically your senior in this time loop, so do you want me to tell you one thing, junior? Bel-Marduk suddenly asked.

What is it?

It would be wise not to rely on the time loop too much. I dont know who keeps the loop going, and the person is no doubt one of the most supreme beings capable of wielding omnipotence. But even they have a limit.

A limit?

Yeah, the more the Outer Celestial gets used to the time loop, the faster theyll show up, Bel-Marduk said with a nod.

A memory flashed through Chang-Suns mind, because he had recently noticed that same pattern. At the beginning of the time loop, he had been able to last over ten years before the Outer Celestial appeared, but he had trouble holding out over two years nowadays, no matter how hard he tried. That was why he had thought there was a new unexpected variable but it seemed that guess was wrong.

Who in the world is that Outer Celestial? <Deus Ex Machina> is right there, so how can the Outer Celestial have no problem invading Eros domain? Who is this guy the Outer Celestial made a contract with? Chang-Sun asked.

You want me to tell you the information I found out with utmost difficulty for free? Bel-Marduk retorted with a half-smirk. Shrugging, he continued, Well, I guess it doesnt matter. Sometimes knowledge only puts you in deeper despair.

Chang-Sun narrowed his eyes. Who in the world was this Outer Celestial, for Bel-Marduk to talk like that?

Ubbo-Sathla[1], Bel-Marduk said as his smile deepened. Do you know who that is?

Somewhat, Chang-Sun replied. In truth, he did not just know who Ubbo-Sathla was. He grunted, continuing, The Outer Celestial is the Unbegotten Source?

The Unbegotten Source, Foolish Amorphous Creator, Headless and Limbless Mass... Every Divine Name of Ubbo-Sathla was far from normal, but there was still the most famous one.

The Source and End.

Ubbo-Sathla had the Divine Rank of creation, which was very unique for a being of Nyx. However, their creation was far from what ordinary people thought of creation. Ubbo-Sathla freely created bizarre monsters. When they disliked the monsters or felt annoyed, they destroyed and ate their creation. If they felt up to it again, they used the ingredients to make a different monster. It looked as if Ubbo-Sathla was repeating a very meaningless cycle, but many of their creations were quite famous.

Some of the Eight Gods of Disorder were created by Ubbo-Sathla, Chang-Sun recalled.

The Eight Gods of Disorder were the eight supreme Outer Celestials that reigned over Nyx. They were the close attendants and shadows of <Dull Darkness>.

The ability to create some of those beings alone made Ubbo-Sathla an Outer Celestial among Outer Celestials. Ubbo-Sathlas origin, <Myths>, and Divine Class were all very formidable. However, the eternal passage of time ensured that almost no Outer Celestial remembered Ubbo-Sathla. If Chang-Sun had not read about the secrets of the Great Universes creation, he would not have known who Ubbo-Sathla was too.

I can now understand why Sadalmelik picked Ubbo-Sathla out of all the other Outer Celestials, Chang-Sun thought.

There would be no better way to become an Outer Celestial than meeting an Outer Celestial that created Outer Celestials Of course, Ubbo-Sathla had simply killed Sadalmelik and used her as an ingredient.

In any case I dont have what it takes to take down such a powerful Outer Celestial right now.

Even if Ubbo-Sathla was not one of the Eight Gods of Disorder, it would be even trickier to deal with them than those eight gods in some ways, so the fact that Chang-Sun could not fight this battle alone remained the same. He could not contact Mephistopheles and did not know where Odin had vanished to, so he was in desperate need of someone elses help.

From this conversation, it became even clearer to Chang-Sun that the person he needed right now was Bel-Marduk. He would never be able to find someone who had more experience with Ubbo-Sathla than Bel-Marduk. Even if he had chosen the path of corruption, Bel-Marduk lived on and continued to miss his Ithaca, so his grudge against Ubbo-Sathla still had to run deep.

So is this all? I dont think you called me out of the blue for these silly questions, Bel-Marduk said, seeing through Chang-Suns thoughts; perhaps it was because they were the same.

Lets work together, Bel-Marduk, Chang-Sun said.

Hahahaha! Bel-Marduk burst into manic laughter, having expected Chang-Suns offer.

The entire Imperial Palace trembled, but Chang-Sun was unfazed and simply watched Bel-Marduk. Bel-Marduks laughter lasted for a long time, as if he was experiencing the funniest thing he had ever heard in his lifetime.

Bel-Marduk panted hard as he eventually stopped laughing with great difficulty. He asked, What? Do you mean it?

Do you think Im joking?

The famous Divine Twilight is stooping pretty low! I cant believe you would ask for help from your enemy who caused your lovers death! Bel-Marduk taunted.

Thats how desperate I am, Chang-Sun answered.

Dont be ridiculous! Bel-Marduk roared suddenly, his prior amusement nowhere to be seen. His vicious, murderous energy raged like a storm. Veins bulged out from his face. You! And I! We shouldnt do that! We may be weak, but we never yield!

Youre also me, so why would I be yielding if I asked you to work together on this? Chang-Sun replied.

Dont play with words! Bel-Marduk screamed.

Whooosh!

Bel-Marduks murderous energy boiled in the air.

Whoosh, swoosh, swish!

A storm rippled out, bringing down the Imperial Palace and shattering the sky barrier like a glass window. The entire planet trembled precariously as if it would be destroyed at any minute.

Do you think Im joking righ! Bel-Marduk began.

Then what in the world have you accomplished? Chang-Sun interrupted.

What?

You told me I wasnt desperate enough yet, but I can say the same of you. Do you seriously still think you can stop everything on your own? Chang-Sun replied, tilting his head.

The more Bel-Marduks eyes shone ferociously, the harder the capital planet trembled with his Divine Class. However, Chang-Sun remained nonchalant.

Yeah, you may be right. I might be acting stubborn right now, but I dont think you can understand me, since youve only gone through a bit of the pain I went through. And Bel-Marduk quietly continued, ...Im almost done with my preparations, so I dont think youll be any help to me.

Chang-Sun had a feeling he knew what Bel-Marduks preparations were about. He asked, Are you talking about the Nereid Stone?

Bel-Marduk replied with a half-smirk, Youve already seen it, havent you? Itll make the talk much easier.

He extended his hand.

Pzzz!

Rummmble!

A golden lightning bolt fell from thick dark clouds that filled the sky, passing through Bel-Marduks fingers.

Pzzzz!

The moment Bel-Marduk grabbed the lightning bolt, it sparked more violently, turning into an enormously long spear. For some reason, Chang-Sun had an impression that the spear resembled [Gungnir]. Perhaps Bel-Marduk had changed or distorted his <Myths> in his own ways as he continued to build new ones.

Ill kill you and get closer to becoming an Emperor, then Ill drag down Ubbo-Sathla from the sky and shred them to death. Thats what I concluded would be the only possible way of killing Ubbo-Sathla, Bel-Marduk said.

Rummmmble!

Bel-Marduk fiercely unleashed his lightning energy toward Chang-Sun, so Chang-Sun drew all his four slayer swords from [Kings Treasury], thinking that he would get nowhere in persuading Bel-Marduk before defeating him.

1. This is actually an amorphous monster from the Cthulhu Mythos.