Chapter 682: Stars Overflowing

Duncan's shocking news surprised the four Popes, leaving them visibly shaken and momentarily speechless as they tried to comprehend the unforeseen information.

Later, when Duncan recounted his meetings with the Black Sun and the Nether Lord to Lune and the others, he deliberately omitted any details about Alice's mansion.

Duncan appeared unconcerned about how his audience would react to his stories. His followers were mentally fortified by his ghost fire's transformative power, while the seasoned bishops present were used to such otherworldly threats and had developed strong mental defenses. Duncan was confident they wouldn't be disturbed by enigmatic messages from ancient deities, which he would normally avoid discussing in front of other clergy members.

Meanwhile, Helena and the rest exchanged meaningful glances. After a moment of hesitation, they all turned to Lune.

The slightly overweight elven elder suddenly felt self-conscious: "...Why are you all looking at me?"

Helena answered honestly, "You are the most knowledgeable among us."

Banster agreed, nodding: "Your insights and intuition in the mysterious world of mysticism are unparalleled."

Frem remained silent, his intense gaze fixed on Lune.

After an uncomfortable pause, Lune, realizing something, turned to Duncan who was observing the exchange: "You're confident that the voices you heard from the Nether Lord and Black Sun made sense, right?"

"Absolutely," Duncan replied openly, "as clear as our conversation right now."

"Then, my second question," Lune continued seriously, "...since returning from subspace, have you encountered any beings so chaotic they defy understanding?"

Duncan paused, contemplating the depth of Lune's question. After a moment, he responded: "I've encountered entities that many would describe as chaotic and incomprehensible... yet, I've always managed to find patterns in their seemingly irrational words... It often feels like they are intentionally communicating with me."

He left his statement unfinished, indicating such experiences were normal for him.

Lune looked worried upon hearing this, and Helena caught the implication: "Wait, are you suggesting..."

"...In the 'Captain's' view, no ancient gods are insane or uncontrollable," Lune stated gravely, focusing on Duncan. "To you, those voices that might drive others to madness are logical and manageable."

A heavy silence followed. Only Shirley, distracted, and Alice, who seemed disinterested, were unaffected as everyone else considered this profound insight and its origins.

Lost in thought, Morris finally broke the silence thoughtfully: "Considering the cognitive deviation hypothesis you mentioned, it suggests that Captain..."

He paused, struck by a realization: "Wait, I have something here."

He quickly spread a sheet of paper on the table. Lune, determined, grabbed a pencil. The group watched, expecting complex symbols or equations, but instead, Lune drew a series of circles—some overlapping, others just touching, and a few isolated.

"As you recall from the Great Annihilation and subsequent theories about our new world's formation..." Lune explained rapidly as he drew, "Many worlds collided, their remains forming our new world's foundation. I call these remains 'primordial ashes,' initially carrying their original world's rules. These circles represent the ashes that share common rules..."

"Yes, it's like the concept of a set. Each world's 'primordial ashes' forms a subset. These overlapping circles here? They show where the original ashes were compatible..."

"During the Third Long Night, these compatible primordial ashes reorganized, ushering in what we now know as the Deep Sea Era... This intersection of sets, right here..."

He paused to emphasize, pointing his pencil at a spot in the center of the paper where several circles, both large and small, converged into a tiny area the size of a nail.

"This area represents our Deep Sea Era... remnants from various world ruins that are compatible and can coexist under a shared set of rules have formed this Boundless Sea and its numerous city-states..."

"However, beyond this intersection, where the circles do not overlap, lie entities that we encounter but cannot understand or control. They exist on the fringes of our reality, manifesting as anomalies and sources of contamination..."

Lune paused briefly, then focused on the isolated circles, untouched by any other.

"Over here, in these solitary circles, reside the blasphemous prototypes, the Black Sun, and other forgotten ancient gods, along with exiled races. Their existence is beyond our comprehension; they do not fit within the framework of our reality. Some have faded into obscurity, while others... continue to exist as a form of primordial ash... in realms beyond our understanding."

Morris grasped the simple yet insightful patterns Lune had drawn: "We exist within this intersecting area, so our understanding is limited to what falls within this overlap. Everything outside this intersection appears to us as indescribable noise and elusive shadows..."

Lune nodded: "Yes, that's the stark reality this model depicts."

Morris elaborated further: "However, for the captain, it's different. Whether it's the obscure shadows beyond our intersection or the lost ancient gods that exist completely outside our conceptual system, to him, they are comprehensible. From his perspective, there is no world that lies beyond the intersection..."

"You've hit the nail on the head," Lune affirmed with a significant nod.

Throughout this discussion, Duncan was a silent observer, listening intently as they tried to rationalize and decipher the enigma of his true nature using their logical constructs.

He offered no comments but listened intently, observing Lune's patterns—intersecting, overlapping, and solitary circles that represented the drifting ashes of countless ruined worlds on the paper.

His thoughts returned to his recent journeys in subspace and the visions he had witnessed in the eyes of the pale giant...

Drawn to the patterns on the paper, Vanna voiced her curiosity softly: "So, in this representation, where does the captain fit in?"

With a grave and thoughtful expression, Lune responded: "The only scenario in which a 'universal set' could encompass all these subsets, including those not yet revealed, is..."

Vanna pondered for a moment before suggesting, gesturing at the paper: "A larger circle encompassing everything?"

"No," Lune corrected her firmly.

Morris, offering a different perspective, stepped forward and gently placed his hand on the paper.

"It's the paper itself." After articulating this thought, he lifted his gaze, looking around.

The hall seemed to transform as if engulfed in a sea of endless stars, with memories and perceptions merging into this cosmic display, enveloping everyone present.

Helena's eyes widened in astonishment at suddenly being thrust into madness, her mind reeling from the vast revelation. She glimpsed a fluctuating shadow amidst the stars, a formidable presence drawing nearer with a thunderous roar.

"Isn't it astonishing?" Lune stood, almost paralyzed, insanity brewing within his eyes, "This is the truth... The ultimate beauty..."

Then, as abruptly as it had appeared, the starlight dissipated—the vast, undulating shadow retreated instantly, too quickly for human perception, back to the confines of the hall's reality.

Still trying to recover from the disorienting effects of the starlit vision, Vanna saw through her dizziness Duncan approaching the table, calmly beginning to roll up the paper.

After the dazzling remnants of starlight had faded, Duncan had already finished rolling up the paper, tucking it carefully into his garments. The atmosphere in the room shifted as the elusive "truth" became temporarily obscured, allowing a sense of normalcy to return.

Banster, his breath catching in a sharp intake, instinctively stepped back a few paces. His eyes, filled with a mix of fear and accusation, locked onto Lune. "I should've always steered clear of scholars like you!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with newfound wariness.

Still catching his breath and visibly shaken, Lune glanced briefly at Duncan, whose presence still seemed subtly intimidating. Turning towards Banster and the others, Lune retorted with a mix of defensiveness and desperation, "But it was at your request that I conducted this analysis!" He paused, seeking affirmation, "Can anyone deny its effectiveness?"

Meanwhile, Morris, looking somewhat sheepish and uncomfortable, addressed Duncan. "Sorry about that," he mumbled, his expression a mix of regret and embarrassment.

Unruffled by the events, Duncan offered a smile that was as serene and forgiving as ever. "It's alright," he reassured them, his tone gentle yet firm. "Curiosity is part of human nature, after all." He paused, glancing around at the group, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Fortunately, everyone is still here and safe."