Chapter 21: Philosophy with Nolan?

Hey guys, back to this story. It's a bit of a small chapter but I am still working on the final chapters to this first season before my classes start. I would also like to see in a poll in the comments (if you want) on what you want me to update I should do next between my three stories. Choices are: Invincible, DC, or PJO. Anyways enjoy the chapter. 

"I'll never know why you people make such a fuss to commemorate that day, anyway. Especially as the very first Christmas was so uneventful. Take it from one who was there."

-Vandal Savage (New Earth)

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Before the Great Assault

Human history will remember the day the Viltrumites destroyed most of their world as the Great Assault but before that day, a simple conversation would happen between two giants.

Two figures hovered silently in the sky, their presence commanding the very air around them. The world below remained oblivious, but these two were anything but ordinary.

"Hello, Nolan."

"Beerus." The man grunted out.

For a moment, the only sound was the wind whipping past, a stark contrast to the unspoken tension between them. Finally, Beerus broke the silence, his voice calm but carrying a gravity that demanded attention.

"Nolan," Beerus began, his voice calm yet carrying a weight that demanded attention. "You've obliterated worlds, crushed rebellions, and bent civilizations to your will. But tell me, what do you truly think of ruling? What does it mean to you to hold dominion over others?"

Nolan glanced at Beerus, the question pulling him from his own thoughts. He considered the inquiry carefully before responding, recognizing the significance behind it.

Nolan replied slowly, his tone deliberate. "Ruling is a necessity. It's about maintaining order, making sure that the strong lead and the weak follow. The universe is a chaotic place, Beerus. Without a firm hand to guide it, everything would collapse. As you know, on Viltrum, we learned that strength is the only thing that matters. Those strong enough to rule have a duty to impose their will, to create a world—or worlds—where that strength is recognized and respected."

Nolan paused for a moment before continuing. "Why do you ask? Is your father planning to pass the title of Grand Regent to you soon?"

Beerus dismissed the question with a slight wave of his hand. "So, for you, ruling is about control, about imposing order through power. But doesn't it ever feel... limiting? Doesn't the weight of leadership ever make you question the true value of that power?"

Nolan's expression tightened, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes—perhaps a hint of introspection. "Ruling isn't easy. It's a responsibility that can consume you if you let it. But it's also a way to leave a mark, to shape the universe in your image. Yes, it's limiting in certain ways—you can't be everywhere at once, and every decision carries consequences. But that's the burden we bear as rulers. It's the price of ensuring the universe doesn't descend into chaos."

"My father," Beerus began thoughtfully, "from what I've observed, doesn't fully grasp the true burden of his crown, even after countless years of ruling our people. As Grand Regent, his title is more than just a symbol of power—it's a shackle. It binds him to a life of relentless vigilance and unending duty. He might not acknowledge it, or perhaps he does but refuses to admit it, fearing it would make him appear weak. In reality, it's a cage—a gilded one, but a cage nonetheless."

Omni-Man listened intently, his expression serious. "You're saying you don't want to lead our people? But you would, if it came down to it?"

Beerus nodded, his eyes distant. "If I must, I would take up the mantle. But it would imprison me for the rest of my life. Being a leader, especially of our people, means sacrificing freedom, and personal desires. Every decision would be scrutinized, every action weighed against the survival of our race. I'd no longer be Beerus—I'd be the Grand Regent, a title that demands everything and gives nothing back."

Omni-Man raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I can understand the reluctance, but what do you mean by 'prisoner'? Surely, with power comes the ability to shape your own destiny."

Beerus sighed, a hint of weariness in his voice. "That's the illusion of power, Nolan. True leadership, the kind my father holds, isn't about freedom. It's about duty, obligation. It's about putting the needs of our people above your own, every single day. The crown weighs heavily, and once it's on your head, it never comes off."

Nolan remained silent for a moment, absorbing the gravity of Beerus's thoughts. Then, as if sensing the need to shift the conversation, he asked, "But back to your earlier comment about the universe spiraling into chaos, Nolan. What do you mean by that?"

Nolan's expression darkened slightly as he looked out into the endless sky. "The universe, Beerus, is inherently chaotic. Every species, every civilization, is constantly teetering on the brink of collapse. Without strong leadership, without someone to impose order, that chaos would consume everything. Look at the planets I've ruled—they were on the verge of self-destruction before we took control. We gave them purpose, direction. Without that, they would have torn themselves apart."

"So, you see yourself as a necessary force," Beerus observed, "a stabilizing factor in a universe that would otherwise destroy itself."

"Yes," Nolan replied firmly. "Strength is the only thing that can hold the chaos at bay. But that strength has to be wielded with absolute authority. Any sign of weakness, any hesitation, and the chaos seeps back in. That's why I've never hesitated to do what's necessary, even if it means making difficult choices. It's better to be feared and hated than to allow everything to fall apart."

Beerus regarded Nolan with a look of exasperation and merely snorted. "Why should we be the ones to bring order to the cosmos? We are nothing but a speck in the grand design that is the universe. Our people could vanish tomorrow, and the universe would not give a single damn. So why do our people conquer and rule? I have researched our history of Emperor Argall's rule till his death by the hands of Thadeus. What purpose does it serve, beyond feeding our own egos?"

Nolan frowned, his brow furrowing as he considered Beerus's challenge. "It's not about ego, Beerus. It's about survival. The universe doesn't care about us, as you said. It's cold, indifferent, and brutal. If we don't take control, if we don't impose order, then we leave ourselves and those under our protection vulnerable to the chaos that would otherwise consume everything. It's a harsh reality, but one that our people have accepted. We conquer because it's the only way to ensure that we, and the worlds we rule, endure. Without that strength, without that will to dominate, we would be nothing more than prey to stronger forces."

Beerus looked at Nolan, his expression unreadable. "But at what cost, Nolan? You speak of survival, but is it truly survival when you sacrifice everything else—freedom, individuality, even your own identity? You've become a ruler, but in doing so, have you not also become a slave to your own ideology?"

Nolan's eyes narrowed, his voice hardening. "I am a Viltrumite, Beerus. We are bred for strength, for conquest. It is in our blood, our very essence. To deny that would be to deny who I am, who we are as a people. Yes, it comes at a cost, but that cost is necessary. Without it, there would be nothing left of us—no legacy, no future. We would fade into obscurity, forgotten by the very universe we sought to protect."

Beerus considered Nolan's words carefully, his gaze piercing as he weighed the Viltrumite's conviction. "Perhaps you're right," he finally said, his tone contemplative. "Perhaps there is no other way for your people to survive in this unforgiving cosmos. But I wonder, Nolan, if you've ever thought about what happens when the fighting stops. What is the endgame? Do you keep conquering, keep imposing your will, until there is nothing left to conquer? Or do you eventually find yourself in a universe where you stand alone, the last ruler in a desolate void of your own making?"

Nolan's expression softened, a rare moment of introspection crossing his face. "I've asked myself that question before," he admitted quietly. "What happens when the battle is over? When there are no more enemies left to fight? I don't know, Beerus. Maybe we are doomed to be eternal warriors, always seeking the next conflict. But I do know this—without the fight, without the struggle, we are nothing. It's what gives us purpose, what defines us as Viltrumites."

"And what about you?" Beerus asked, his voice now tinged with curiosity. "What do you want, Nolan? Beyond the duty, beyond the conquest—what is it that you truly desire?" (AN: I liked the Lucifer series on Netflix, if you haven't watched it, I recommend)

Nolan paused, his gaze turning inward as he searched for an answer. "I want a world where my son, my family, can live in safety. Where they don't have to bear the same burdens that I do. I want to protect them from the chaos that I've fought against my entire life. But I also know that such a world may never exist, not as long as there are forces out there that threaten what I hold dear."

Beerus nodded slowly, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "A world of peace, without the chains of duty or the weight of power. It's a noble goal, but a difficult one to achieve. Perhaps, in the end, we are all prisoners to our roles, trapped by the very power we wield."

The two giants stood in silence for a moment, the wind whipping around them as they contemplated the paths they had chosen, the burdens they carried, and the uncertain futures that lay ahead.