"We are almost there," the Empress said, her tone level and calm.

Then the Empress looked at Somnus and smiled. "Did you enjoy your time here in our world?"

The question betrayed the true depth of the Empress's familiarity with Somnus and his origins.

"Did Seraph tell you?" Somnus asked, evading the question.

"Seraph told me a lot about you. Whenever she came to visit Aristeia, Aurora also told me about you," the Empress said. "A lot of things happened to our world, and there is no single ent.i.ty to blame. The war with the t.i.tans, The Silence, Aeon, the Alfar war, Seraph, the Grey War, the World Boss… the death of the Heart. It makes one wonder if we ever stood a chance."

Aristeia's expression was grim, especially at the mention of the Heart and its death. "I had high hopes for Aurora's plan, but it was not meant to be," she said.

"Aurora's plan?" Somnus asked. This is what he came for—to find out what the point of all this was.

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Aristeia nodded. "You can't kill a Fragment. It will return. The only way to kill them is to either erase them, or kill them when they form the whole."

"But Aurora sealed Aeon away," Somnus said. "The only reason I stumbled upon Aeon was because s.h.i.+n—"

"Aurora didn't seal Aeon away," Aristeia said.

"You are wrong. Aeon was sealed away," Somnus said.

"Yes, Aeon was sealed away. But Aurora had nothing to do with it," Aristeia replied, slightly offended by being told she was wrong.

"Then who sealed Aeon away?" Somnus asked.

"Aeon did," the Sword of the Divine replied.

"What?" Somnus asked. That answer came so out of left field that Somnus almost missed a step.

"Aurora's plan wasn't to seal Aeon away. Her plan was to become Aeon's Vessel," Aristeia said. "Once she was Aeon's Vessel, she'd commit a Taboo and be erased, along with Aeon."

This didn't make any sense. Why would Aeon seal itself away?

Before he could ask further questions, they reached a large door.

"This is the Inner Sanctum. Seraph is beyond this door," the Empress said, and nodded to Aristeia.

Aristeia stepped forwards and drew her sword, pointing it at the door. Her lips mouthed a silent chant, and the door began to glow with a brilliant light, before swinging open.

Inside, Somnus saw the ma.s.sive hulk of what was indeed an Autonomous Machine a.r.s.enal, but its Delta Superalloy had been entirely replaced with magitech metal. Not only was Seraph an Autonomous Machine a.r.s.enal, but it was an improved version. Within its heart, Somnus could sense a ma.s.sive amount of mana powering the monstrosity—enough to obliterate the world a thousand times over.

Next to one of Seraph's curled up legs stood a man with a black mask covering his face. His clothes were ordinary, one could call them "simple" if they were being polite, but "poor" was a more apt description. Yet, his imperious bearing and stature made the Empress seem poor by comparison—in spirit at least.

The Empress lowered her head upon seeing the man. "Abaddon, I didn't know you'd be here as well."

Somnus narrowed his eyes at the name the Empress used for the man.

"Of course I would be here, Ophelia," Abaddon said, lowering his mask. "Meon, I have been waiting for you, for a long time. An eternity, it seems like."

The man looked exactly like Somnus. Had the Empress not called him Abaddon, Somnus would've a.s.sumed this was Expression of Order.

"Eclipse!" Somnus called out, reaching into his halo. But before he even had a chance to grasp the invisible paradox blade, Seraph's laser batteries powered up and pointed at Somnus.

"Cease hostilities," the behemoth rumbled. "Comply."

"What is the meaning of this?" Somnus demanded. "You didn't have to lead me here to ambush me."

"It is not an ambush," Abaddon said. "It is a reunion."

Somnus tilted his head. Despite his calm reasoning, he couldn't bring himself to trust Abaddon. Abaddon was a cold-blooded killer. A machine through and through.

"Come," Abaddon said, taking a seat on top of Seraph's leg. "You must have questions."

"It is not a trick, Somnus," the Empress said. "This is our last hope… Please, listen to them."

"We are out of hope. The Heart is dead. I killed it," Somnus said.

"The Heart is just a reactor," Abaddon said. "Look at you. You are made of mana. Where do you think it comes from?"

"It is residual mana from my Apotheosis. It will disappear," Somnus said.

Abaddon shook his head. "Incorrect."

Somnus pondered the question while at the same time pondering Abaddon's agenda. "I am connected to [the End of All Things]. Is that the source of my mana?"

Abaddon smiled. "That is the only source of mana. The End of All Things. The Silence. The Chaos. Call it whatever you want."

"The Heart is just a reactor stealing from [The End of All Things]? Then... the Will…?"

"Ent.i.ty: Will of the World is Designation: Principle of Control," Seraph's voice rumbled through the chamber.

Somnus blinked. The Will was a Principle?

"You seem confused," Abaddon said, crossing his arms. "I am not sure myself. I think a long time ago, the Humanity of this world discovered [The End of All Things] and made a pact with the Principle of Control. Their freedom in exchange for mana. Although, it is more likely that they were tricked into that arrangement. The Principle of Control isn't exactly the type to make compromises or strike deals."

Somnus narrowed his eyes. "Are you really Abaddon? The way you speak… not that long ago you sounded exactly like Seraph."

"It came with my Ascension," Abaddon said. "When I killed Heptia, I was raised to Triarch status. Millenia of experiences flooded my consciousness. The history of this world, going as far back as there was a necessity to wors.h.i.+p the Human G.o.d of War, became a part of me. I am Abaddon, but there is a part of every G.o.d of War within me in the form of their knowledge."

"I… see…" Somnus said. "Then, your plan was to kill the Principle of Control? Why did you need me?"

"I can't kill the Principle. I am an indirect va.s.sal," Abaddon said. "Seraph can't do it, because he can't become a Principle. And Aeon locked himself away in a fractured dimension. Our only option was you."

Somnus narrowed his eyes. "Why did Aeon seal himself away?"

Abaddon's welcoming expression faltered at the question, and his cold glare leveled on Somnus. "I suppose being a part of me has taught you a few things about being careful. The way I received my knowledge from the G.o.ds of War, you also received my knowledge as an Autonomous Machine a.r.s.enal—including my tactics, interrogation methods and espionage techniques. Unfortunate."

"What are you hiding, Abaddon? Why did Aeon seal himself away, if manipulating me to kill the Principle of Control was the plan all along?" Somnus asked.

"I told him to do it," Abaddon said.

"Do you think I am stupid? We were not even in this world when Aeon was sealed away," Somnus replied, his tone br.i.m.m.i.n.g with aggression.

"Before we came to this world. Before Project Aurora blew us all into the next world—literally. I told Aeon to protect you at all costs," Abaddon said.

"You are lying," Somnus said.

"Am I?"

[He is telling the truth. Abaddon did order me to find you and to protect you.]

"What?" Somnus was getting more confused with each moment. He came to find answers, but only found more questions.

Abaddon seemed to realize Aeon's involvement in that conversation and shrugged. "See?"

This entire time, the Empress and Aristeia remained quiet, following the conversation without trying to attract too much attention.

"How does sealing yourself away protect me? You tried to kill me when we first met!" Somnus said.

[I didn't know it was you. When I realized who you were, I surrendered. But it was too late. I didn't want you to become the Relentless Gears of Extinction. When Aurora offered to become my Vessel, I refused because it was against the parameters of my mission. However, meeting you was also against the parameters of my mission. I had no other choice.]

Somnus glared at Abaddon. "So you sent s.h.i.+non?"

Abaddon smiled. "Did you enjoy the adventuring life?"

Somnus glanced to Seraph, then the Empress's companion, before setting his gaze on Abaddon.

"Planning to kill me for what I did?" Abaddon asked. "I doubt either one of them could stop you in time. Do you want to try?"

It was a subtle threat. Not only did he inform Seraph and Aristeia of Somnus's intentions, but he also worded it like Somnus wasn't guaranteed to succeed. He even invited Somnus to try.

"What about Aurora?" Somnus asked.

"What about her?" Abaddon queried.

"Why did she try a different way?"

"She had a different idea. It failed. Now she is dead. Let's move on," Abaddon said coldly.

"Move on? Aurora was… she was…"

"Your lover? So what? Get over it."

"Aurora risked everything to save me," Somnus retorted.

"And she was wrong and paid the price for her mistake!" Abaddon replied, raising his voice.

"You manipulated me!" Somnus replied at the same volume.

"As opposed to what? 'Hey, you are actually the human soul, and I need you to find the drone you thought was sent to kill you, become its vessel and slay the Heart of the World. Don't worry, it sounds like a bad idea, but it is good for us.'?" Abaddon scoffed. "Wake up."

"Why did you send Aeon to protect me?" Somnus asked.

Abaddon's jaw twitched at the question and he drew in a deep breath. "a.s.suming Project Aurora wouldn't kill me, I needed someone to keep me company. I thought there was no better company than an idiotic orphan I picked up on t.i.tan. Happy?"

"You are lying," Somnus said. "You are trying to manipulate me again. I've had enough. Just tell me what it is you want—what I became a Principle for. It is not just to slay the Heart, is it? Be quick. Before my patience runs out."

"That's more like it," Abaddon said. "In simple terms, I need you to die."

"What does that accomplish?" Somnus asked.

"You seem awfully calm about the idea," Abaddon said.

"Answer my question," Somnus said.

"We need another Heart. One less Principle of Control, and more 'nothing in return'."

"You need my heart?" Somnus asked. "Don't have one anymore, thanks to the Expression of Order."

"Not your heart," Abaddon said, and pointed at Somnus's halo. "We need that thing."

Somnus chuckled. He suddenly found this entire thing comical. His chuckle turned into full-blown laughter.

"What is funny?"

"You put me through all this, got Aurora killed, made me think I was the monster I swore to destroy... all for this?" Somnus asked, pointing at his halo.

Abaddon narrowed his eyes. "Pretty much," he said, colder than ice.

"And if I refuse?" Somnus asked, his laughter dying down.

"We kill you and take it," Abaddon said.

Somnus smirked. "I'd like to see you try."

Seraph's batteries hummed with a threatening noise. "Comply," it rumbled.

"I guess Seraph is here for the "Diplomatic Effect". Helps with the negotiations?" Somnus asked.

"The gunboat policy never fails," Abaddon said. "So what will it be? Give us the Reactor, live a few days until your mana dissipates, or die?"

Somnus smiled. It was a regretful smile.

"I think it's time for us all to atone for what we did."