Chapter 100: The Scent of Carnage (Part 2)

There are a lot of different supernatural abilities. Most of them can be classified under Psychic, Aural, Vampiric, Dragon, Ghost or Spiritual.

But, there certainly are exceptions. For example, one can't classify the Eyes of Truth in any category.

By nature, it is a combination of various different abilities. But, it is not quite as simple as just a mix of a number of abilities either. These abilities are present in the makeup of it in specific quantities and are placed very carefully at very precise positions. It's like a chemical formula in that regard.

But, that too is an oversimplification of it. After all, abilities are not the same thing as chemicals. They can't be turned into an object like a liquid or a solid and used in experiments. In order for one to combine or separate abilities, one needs to first study these abilities thoroughly and create them artificially, compact them somehow and react it to the other abilities. It's like trying to capture wind and then making it react with a typhoon.

The whole thing sounds so impossibly tough. And yet, someone was able to do all of it and create something like the Eyes of Truth.

And, as the person who has studied its composition down to its core, I can see that person was in no way a simpleton.

Thousand years ago, when our so-called God and Devil were still alive, there was a genius the likes of which the world had never seen before, and arguably didn't see after either.

However, despite all that, there was something that bothered me while I was studying it.

People say that an artist's personality can be gauged from their art. So, are supernatural researchers and inventors artists too, because I felt I could gauge something about Sagax from just taking a look at those Eyes of Truth, and it wasn't pleasant.

In fact, having taken a look at that, I really have to question if all I am doing is serving some self-gratifying notion of justice for Abyss.

After all, if a genius like Sagax could show so much disgust towards Abyss with his creation, then is it really right for me to want to give him "justice" like he's completely innocent without really knowing a thing about him.

And what about Ozyllus?

For all that he did for which I, and many others, hate him, what is he trying to achieve? Is stopping him really the right thing to do?

We were all subjected to the reality that all we knew about the world, its legends and its history, were all false. But, have we really learned from that?

We were deceived by believing in those legends once. So, after we found out about the deception, we started believing in the exact opposite of the legends. But, who is to say that everything about this side of the story is true either? We could still be living in a lie and be deceived like before, and just like before, we might not be aware of it.

I want to believe in Abyss, obviously. He endured so much for me, after all. But, can I really just dismiss everything that is said about him as being false? Can there really be no truth to all the things that the legends blame him for?

Realistically, Abyss being involved in a lot of these things seems much more plausible than him being completely innocent.

Sona: "Found him yet?"

In any case, I seem to have drifted a little off course here, though only after finishing what I was trying to do.

Kais: "Yes, I have."

Sona: "Well?"

Kais: "He's almost at the border of Kesley, though not on the side we are nearing but much west from there."

And he seems to be moving, though I don't think mentioning that is important since it should be kinda obvious given our circumstances.

Sona: "I see. Let's hurry towards him then."

Sona suggests, and glances over at the Aural behind us.

Sona: "Are you okay?"

Despite my best attempts at healing her, I couldn't completely heal her. She's still pretty injured and taking the strain of running should be taking a toll on her right now.

Sneha: "Yeah, don't worry about me."

Still, she does look like she will be able to handle it. I guess, that's an Aural for you.

Sona: "Then, let's keep going."

Nodding, the three of us continue - to where I sense Ethan to be.

When I mentioned to them that I can track Ethan down, they didn't question me. They are probably saving it for later because we are in a hurry right now.

I wonder how Ethan would react though when he learns that I can track him down so easily. And I wonder how these two will react when they see his surprise over it.

I can hope that I am not assumed to be some creepy stalker and given a chance to explain … well, I say that but - there's not much to explain.

Back on the island, Ethan asked me to scan the Eyes of Truth so I can track him down. But, that wasn't the end of it.

After scanning his eyes, he then asked me to erase his memories of that scan ever happening and even him asking about it.

Obviously, after having his memory erased, he then ended up proposing the same idea again but I denied doing it - giving him the impression that I wasn't willing to do something like that.

So, past that point, Ethan's plans probably were all made on the assumption that the scan never happened.

When I asked Ethan what would be the point of all this, his answer to it was "to win against a monster smarter than me".

I didn't get it back then but I think I understand now.

Ethan doesn't think he can defeat Bronzer. According to Ethan, Bronzer could be controlling his every move.

That is why, in order for Bronzer to be defeated, things need to go better than Ethan's calculations suggest they would. And, the only two ways that would happen is either by sheer dumb luck or having aces up his sleeve that he himself doesn't know about.

I am one of those aces.

In fact, I am his last ace. And it's my job to make him win, even with a lost hand.

Hah! It feels somewhat gratifying to have such an important role to play. But, for the first time, I am being given a role where I have to make all the decisions myself, and those decisions I make can and probably will be monumental.

To have such a responsibility, it's scary, and oh so exciting.

I have to say, I can't wait for the moment where I decide the fate of this world.

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