Chapter 782: The Awakening [Pt 1]

The legion seemed to be without end.

Time and time again, Neron had killed an infinite version of Legris' who had assaulted him. Yet, they only kept coming.

He slaughtered them in droves.

Utilizing the several Mana Cores and Sub Cores in his body, he killed them as they attacked.

Unfortunately, even he had his limits.

Time was ineffective here, so his body no longer operated on the same loop as it once did. Whenever he was damaged, he needed to use healing Magic on himself.

Infested with Nether, he had to utilize the surplus quality of Mana he had, compressing them until he had the Aether he needed. [The Hermit] was useless here, and he needed all the power he could muster to fight against the countless Legris Damien he fought.

'Each one is almost as powerful as a Grand Mage. Which makes this difficult.'

He had to keep recreating Mana Cores and Subcores as he exhausted his supply while fighting so many opponents. His Familiars were put into overdrive, and he used all the combinations in his arsenal—millions and billions—to kill the foes before him.

Yet... they never seemed to end.

"They're over a billion now, Neron. You've killed over a billion variants of me." Legris' voice echoed in the vast space.

Nether pervaded every corner, and if he relaxed for even a fraction of a moment, Neron was certain it would consume him.

"You've badly damaged this Limbo, you know?"

"Damn... the damage is so extensive that it's unbelievable."

"To think you still haven't regained your full memories, yet you're this strong."

"I really need to end you quickly."

Voices upon voices overlapped, their frustration evident in their tone.

"Then end me. What's stopping you?" Neron yelled, utilizing an immensely powerful combination of fire, wind, and lightning to destroy a variant that charged at him while making use of his many clones to keep the others at bay.

"If only it was that simple.

"Unfortunately, it's not."

"This is the most I can do."

"I can only do what I can do."

"All of these are me."

"We are one."

"I can only attack as much as possible."

"You're just too annoying!"

"Like a rat!"

"If only you weren't so strong!"

The only advantage Neron had was his quality, in opposition to their quantity.

There was strength in numbers, but when all of them gathered to fight a far more powerful foe, it ended up as a stalemate.

Legris couldn't beat Neron, but Neron couldn't kill Legris.

This dance had continued for so long that both parties had lost track of time—both of this world and the one beyond it.

"You're already getting tired."

"A few more rounds, and I'll win."

"Your body can't handle anymore."

"Whether I kill you, or you kill yourself, it doesn't matter."

"In the end..."

"... I'll be the ultimate victor!"

"I'll finally rid myself of you, Neron!"

"Hahahaha!!!"

This burst of laughter pervaded the dark expanse, and it brought about something unusual from Neron.

"Keke..."

A chuckle?!

Neron was now still. He no longer resisted, but he simply stood in a single position.

And... he was laughing!

"You're laughing?"

"In this situation?"

"What's so funny?"

Several Legrises lunged at Neron, refusing to miss this opportunity, but they were so easily blown away by the immense surge of Aether that burst from his body.

"Hahaha!"

"You're being so wasteful of your Aether!"

"How much do you have?"

"You're running low, aren't you?"

"Finally given up?"

"Come on, say something!"

Neron's chuckle only grew louder as Legris taunted him. Both voices overlapped until one finally overpowered the other due to its sheer volume.

Soon, no one spoke or moved.

Only Neron's laughter filled the dark abyss. It went on and on and on—echoing like the sound of a ripple in a boundless well.

Then... it slowly came to a halt.

"Haa... Legris..." Neron's voice still contained hints of exhaustion, but his relieved smile seemed to indicate otherwise.

It was common sense to assume that he was in trouble, but why did it feel like it was the exact opposite?

"I've already gotten what I wanted. It took some time, thanks to all the interference you caused, but I finally got the hang of it."

Legris—no, all of the Legrises—felt confused.

"What are you talking about?" They all chorused.

"Well, you know me, Legris... old friend. I hate losing."

What did that have to do with anything? Was Neron stalling? Legris knew something was amiss, but he couldn't place his finger on it.

It felt like... he was missing something.

"[The Hermit] is useless here because the concept of time doesn't exist. I can use Aether just fine, and I can perform other actions just fine. But certain elements, like space, gravity, and so many other things are meaningless here." Neron said.

He must have deciphered all of these things amid the battle.

Then again, what of it?

What was the relevance of these observations? Ultimately, he was going to die here.

"It would seem as though I'm out of cards, Legris. Or... am I?"

Suddenly, a card manifested right in front of Neron, shrouding him in grey-like energy. The glow was dull and small, but it slowly began to have more lustre... more colour!

"N-NO!" By the time Legris realized it, the process had been initiated.

It was already too late!

"NO WAY!"

"YOU.... NO!"

"HOW COULD I HAVE...?!"

This was what he had been missing this whole time. This was the error he had made.

Legris had always assumed that [The Hermit] was Neron's Trump Card. That was how it had always been. How could he have expected a second Arcana?

And this wasn't just another Arcana. It was the very one that could unravel everything!

It was—

"[The Fool]" Neron smiled as the glow grew brighter than ever.

"It was a close call, but... I'm finally ready."

Legris' eyes bulged in desperation and shock as everything within him pounded in fear.

Pure, unbridled fear!

"STOP HIM!" All the Legrises yelled, and they instantly charged towards Neron in their droves.

But, as was mentioned earlier...

... It was too late!

>BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

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[A/N]

Who else is getting goosebumps? It's finally time!!!