Chapter 271: Memories Adrift

Aleph told everyone his future knowledge after the fifth major eruption. That included the future he knew of.

Mobius and Vill-V used up the idea of MOTH's final project at that time—one that involved the fragment of Finality.

In the original, they managed to steal a portion of it. The moment Kevin shuts down the Herrscher of the End, Prometheus had the chance to 'hack' the Cocoon of Finality.

Kevin was chosen as its wielder, thereby becoming strong enough to cover humanity's development. His strength could easily kill Judgement-class Honkai Beasts.

His final form of Deliverance proved his toughness. He fought against Origin, Finality, and Truth, all at once.

This time, Kevin was not the only one who benefitted off the Cocoon.

Mobius succeeded with pulling it off. 

As for its price, it was roughly the same as Kevin's. Being Finality's container will bring unprecedented pain to its wielder. Despite Mobius losing her body, it did not prevent it from burdening her 'mind'.

"How did you come up with this?"

"Correction. We." Mobius replied. "She… Elysia found me."

"..."

Aleph knew where the Parallel Elysia is currently residing. He wasn't as worried to her current state.

"She dragged me inside the Cocoon. That was the same time when Mei launched the Imaginary Realization Group to change the Cocoon's rules. The fragment of Finality and Elysia's entry came next."

He knew the fate of this parallel Earth the moment he glanced at it. The general outline of its events presented themselves in his gaze.

The Imaginary Realization Group fixed the order of Herrschers that will appear in the Current Era. It was the same as the original. Elysia's entry, however, made a different change.

Due to Aleph, the Cocoon was hacked. Be it in the real Earth or the Parallel Earth, Herrschers already obtained a human ego. This removed the necessity to use Elysia's opportunity to grant them one.

Instead…

"She is waiting for you."

"..."

Aleph stared down at Mobius. He already knew what she was talking about.

For a time, he felt incredulous over his arrangements to break Finality's test. First was the Error authority. Second was the discovery and removal of Finality's influence over him. The third one is an insider of Earth.

Working on both the inside and the outside is a surefire way of opening the imaginary barrier without using Aleph's Aeon-level strength.

It's just that…

'I did not expect it.' He soon corrected his thoughts. 'Of course I made this mistake.'

When he learned about the general outline, he was surprised. He did not expect things to end in that way, given his presence.

Elysia's situation was different from the rest, save for Mobius. The two of them are awake during the entirety of fifty thousand years. The rest slept using the cryopods, the Fifth Divine Key.

Now, Aleph dare not use his current knowledge to judge how much they went through over the years.

'Why…'

The touch of Mobius' finger woke him up. She tried to poke his forehead, only for her to stand up on her toes due to the height difference.

This somewhat cute gesture made him laugh.

"There's no need to blame yourself. It is our decision to begin with." She stated flatly. "Or would you like to show your crybaby side?"

"..."

It was difficult to remain indifferent in the face of his world. It was not the universe, nor Earth, nor Fire MOTH that he treated as one—it is the people surrounding him.

Despite knowing that this parallel Earth is nothing short of an 'alternative' world, the weight of his mistakes felt heavy.

The thought of failing them does not bid well for him.

Facing this realistic possibility of that one instance where he failed, he was at a loss for words.

'Should I do it? Break the imaginary barrier. Return back to the real universe?'

Aleph already fulfilled the three conditions he had. The existence of Error allowed the creation of loopholes. Once they are in place, Aleph would burst out with his eight-fold authority synergy, focus his power on [Error], and then break free from this parallel universe.

That way, he can return to the place he considers home.

The only reason behind his wait was the truth about [Door] and [Error]. Once the final [Fool] authority is obtained, the three would merge and become the [Lord of the Mysteries]. It increases his overall success rate up to 95%. That was how busted it was.

Nevertheless, his success rate without it sits at roughly 70%. 

He can choose to do it now.

"Hm. I miss that look of yours."

Mobius wrapped her arms around him. The warmth he emitted was nothing short of a real human.

Ironically, it was Mobius who did not have any bodily warmth.

"I am warning you. Don't do stupid things. I can see you already have the means to return to your Mobius."

She was familiar with that look of doing a gamble. Her memories of Aleph fifty thousand years ago did not fade. She knew how he was the type to ensure victory before acting. From the killing of the fourth Herrscher up to the conversion of the Fifth Herrscher into an ally, they are all a success.

It was precisely due to that reason that Mobius realized his disappearance wasn't simple. Aleph is not the type to 'lose' like that.

Things were proven fifty thousand years later. She started to 'dream' of things that did not happen. A fight beyond the Earth, Aleph's disappearance in the eighth eruption, the existence of Evolution Cube and Tokisaki Kurumi…

It was then she learned of another world.

Their world formed a sharp contrast with the real world. The latter continued to function well and all of Aleph's traces remained. The former, on the other hand, had his traces erased by something.

It was as if their world should not have existed to begin with.

'No…'

At this moment, a realization struck him.

Amidst the heavy feeling in his chest, he found an answer. The possibilities that he, as an Aeon (God), sees far exceeds his former mortal self. 

Now, there are things he could accomplish at the same time.

Mobius did not notice the changes in his eyes. She went silent as she buried her face in his chest. A strong sense of satisfaction arose in her mind.

'Even for the last time…'

"I will save both worlds."

Aleph's words brought Mobius' mind to a halt.

"I will save you." He said with a straight face. "You are my Mobius."

These words sent a wave of emotions to her body—the kind that makes her weak on the knees.

"Oh? The lab rat is eyeing its doctor?" She asked playfully.

"Yes."

"..."

Another wave of silence occurred between them. Mobius heaved a sigh after a while.

"I won't accept it."

"..."

"Ely is dead... in human terms. Mei did not plan on living too. Sakura headed to the moon and died…"

Mobius mentioned the fates of others.

Pardofelis, Kalpas, Kosma, and Sakura died during the fight on the moon. Mei, Eden, and Aponia chose not to enter the cryopods for a reason and died when the fourteenth herrscher's honkai energy swept through Earth. Griseo, the youngest, was sent out to enact Project ARK. Kevin was left responsible for Project Stigma while Su balanced him out through Project Regulator.

Hua was assigned Project Embers while Vill-V maintained the Elysian Realm.

On the eve of the final battle, Elysia disappeared and never returned. 

Aleph chose to remain silent. He knew what Mobius was talking about.

In the same way as Mei, Eden, and Aponia…

She is long tired.

The only reason she lived was due to the fragment of Finality. It kept her sense of self as 'Mobius'. Even so, it was not flawless. 

Had it not been for her unwillingness, she would have long passed away. The fragment of Finality she possessed will then be distributed throughout humanity.

It was her final act of giving—the price for using the entirety of humanity to satisfy her selfishness.

To save Mobius or follow her wishes?

Aleph faced the dilemma from back then. 

Even if he is an Aeon, how can he save someone who is unwilling to be saved?

If he proceeds to disregard Mobius' wishes, is it still him?

The supposed "answer" he got earlier led to another question.

"Don't worry. Even if I leave, I will leave behind a gift. The other me will like it."

"...I hope so."

Seeing her peaceful look, he could not bring to go against her wishes. 

Silence occurred between them for the third time.

Just when he felt that Mobius was about to disappear, she spoke her last words.

"...Thank you."

"..!"

Aleph could only stare blankly at the empty space between his arms.