Zero's Reveal [Chapter 110]

"Wait, I'm not Dante, or Nevereth? Then who am I?"

Zero stands, motionless.

"You are a fraction of both, the living link to what remains of Nevereth. Unfortunately, you are the only person who can bring him back to life. Ayvex is the only other person who knows this, but she would despise this decision. The Nevereth you have come to know is a shadow of his former self. Most of his memories locked away with his true form. But in a strange turn of events, his true form will always be beside us. Tell me, how do you imagine the system was created? Some spell that memorizes information, creates abilities at the same time new life occurs, and occasionally makes mistakes?"

I stand, speechless. Unable to produce a true idea about the way the system was made, even Nevereth's deepest memories don't have an answer for how he did it. I focus on Zero, anxious for what he has to say.

"You've had access to only around ten percent of Nevereth's true power. The sad truth, is that the system around us, is not what everyone believes. Several thousand years ago, Nevereth decided to gift the ability of exponential growth to all the races of this world, even the ones that you don't know exist. Ayvex agreed to his plan, but reluctantly. He made the deal with her, that he would leave a fraction of himself with her. But his main body, the main chunk of his soul."

He pauses, my mind catching up with what he's saying.

"He is the system, existing all around us at once. Have you not seen it first hand? The random flaws in the stats, spells, and distribution of power? Even now, he powers up people, gifting them a portion of his power. The version he left here was not allowed this information, so he would not be able to undo the system he cherished so much."

I quickly speak up.

"No way! I have access to all Nevereth's memories, and there doesn't exist any memories on the creation process of the system! It would be more believable for someone else to have created the system but he can access it."

Zero opens his eyes halfway, blankly looking to me.

"And does that not stir more questions inside you?"

I start to answer, but feel myself pause. No matter how hard I try to fight it, his words do force me to see gaps in the memories present in Nevereth's mind. Nevereth's memories show he is fully aware that he was involved with the creation of the system and that he can control some aspects of it, but he has no answer for why or how. The further I dig through Nevereth's memories, the more I find myself believing Zero. I clench my fist and stare towards Zero, speaking quietly.

"Okay, and so what?"

"You can undo it."

The wind whips and blows around us as his words roll off his tongue. I feel my heart sink as I think about it.

"But what would happen to everyone else?"

I ask, concerned by what the answer most likely is. Zero continues to stare blankly at me.

"Everyone would become weak, unable to do most of the things they do now. For comparison, a human before you undo the system may have a score of one hundred, or even a few thousand. But after the system is erased, the strongest humans would have a proportional score of around one hundred. The system was Nevereth's gift so they could transcend their typical limits, let them become something more."

I look to the ground, a heavy guilt setting in for even considering it.

"But, how do you know this? I guess I can understand Ayvex being privy to this information, but why do you know so much about this?"

Without hesitation, as though he was waiting for this question, he answers.

"I gave him the idea, and helped him complete it."

For a moment, the world freezes around me, my mind a flutter with ideas and confusion.

But, why? Why would he help, or even have the idea for the system, just to want to tear it down now?

I quickly step forward and grab Zero's collar, lifting him off the ground slightly.

"Answer me, what's your game? What's your angle in all this? You say you're neutral, but it feels like you're heavily trying to get me to drop the system to bring back Nevereth. How can you say you're neutral!"

He stares down at me, still emotionless.

"You're letting emotions cloud your mind, I'm merely supplying information that was being withheld. I want both sides to have all aces up their sleeves. But, am I really the one who is trying to get you to bring it all down? Or are you considering it, and that makes you upset? That this offer that you were previously unaware of is in play, an offer that almost assuredly guarantees victory in the coming battle, but with the fallback of crippling the entire planet's society?"

He grips my wrist, surprisingly overpowering me for a moment and forcing me to drop him.

[-50,000 HP]

[+50,000 HP]

"I only bring you this information because Ayvex refused to share the information that would cripple her creation."

He starts to turn away as I rub my wrist where he grabbed it.

"Wait, her creation?"

He suddenly pauses again, mid turn.

"She didn't tell you that either? Strange, she used to brag about her creation unendingly."

With those words, he reattaches his mask and disappears before I can say anything else.

"Wait!"

I extend my hand to where he just was, missing his teleportation by only a fraction of a second. I feel the weight on my shoulders seem to grow ever heavier, with the new knowledge to think about. I shake my head, quickly electing to not tear down the system. Refusing to cripple the entire world suddenly. I walk back through the tether, reappearing in front of the now even larger army. I quickly close my eyes to check on Grim, noticing he's above a body of water.

With that vision in my mind, I teleport directly to Ayvex and the others. As I appear, she looks to me.

"Ah, did you fix the telep-"

"Grim is on his way."