Chapter 466: Chapter 466: No time Chapter 466 – No time "Make peace with the dead, my baby." The words were bitter on Maryam’s tongue. But that was always how things were when Death was involved. Death was a bitter name. And if there had been any other choice, she would have chosen any other words to comfort her grieving son. But there was none. His friends, his sister, and his subordinates were dying all over the universe. If they were lucky enough to have their souls transported to the Spirit World, then no matter what, they would spare no effort to retrieve them. However, how could one retrieve something that had been completely destroyed, with nothing left behind? No soul, no flesh and bones... nothing. "It will be fi—!" "There must be a way." Noah interrupted his mother midway, his voice resolute. "There is always a way." His eyes left no room for slithering doubt. Looking at him, Maryam could see that Noah was trying to cling to something, as if afraid of losing the little calmness left within him. So she fell silent. She knew that speaking more than she already had would be useless. Noah was not in the right state of mind, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. Maryam didn’t expect him to be alright. No one could be, after losing someone important in a single life—especially if, in some part, their death was caused by one’s own actions. The guilt gnawing at his heart must be unbearable. And she, as his mother, could only watch. She sighed faintly, then simply hugged him, letting silence settle between them. Noah could sense how his mother was feeling. He knew that, to her, this was nothing but nonsense. Then again, wouldn’t she probably say the same if he told her he was the Son of Reality? His perspective was different. Not because he was necessarily stronger, or smarter, or reborn in some strange way. But simply because he had glimpsed something none of them could begin to comprehend. Noah had seen the process of creation in its primal form. He had seen the one who created everything around them play a game with her—and win—before disappearing, taking with him the Eternal Origin bloodline. So at that instant, even as sadness and anger threatened to cloud his mind, the Prince was calm enough to turn inward, toward his only ray of hope. ’Is there any way?’ Noah called out, trying to link himself to Gaia. He had expected a swift answer, but when it came, it was delayed, and the voice was strange. Strained. Or rather, weakened. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮 ’Way for what, Raj?’ Noah detected a trace of impatience in her tone. Clearly, he had interrupted her at a time he shouldn’t have. Feeling inwardly apologetic, Noah spoke quickly. ’To bring back those whose souls were destroyed, leaving nothing behind. Is there a way?’ ’There is,’ Gaia said, and Noah’s eyes lit up. ’But it’s outside of your reach.’ Her stern voice wiped the smile from his face. ’And no, I will not do it for you, Raj. Not this time. You have already created enough problems for me to deal with.’ Noah felt the link between them waver, as if it could snap at any moment. A flicker of panic surged through him, making his body tense sharply. Maryam stirred, then looked at him with a puzzled frown. Noah paid her no attention. ’Tell me the way then!’ He barely stopped himself from speaking aloud. ’You can’t help me, fine. But tell me how!’ ’Stay away from anything big, Raj. This is not the time for your damn folly.’ Gaia’s voice was laced with irritation, with a trace of anger. ’Do you hear me? You have lost them. Accept it and move on. That is how things are. No one lives without dying. Mortals die, immortals die, damn Raj, even reality itself can die! It’s part of the process!’ ’So—!’ ’Just tell me!’ Noah growled. ’Only the way. I need to know! And maybe to you it’s nothing important for you are used to death, and they are not beings you care about.’ He paused, breathing deeply, trying to restrain the boiling frustration inside him. ’But to me they are friends, the daughter of my wife, and someone who saw me and made me her brother. They are people who believed in me!’ ’I need to try,’ Noah’s voice lowered, like a faint breeze. ’I need to at least try.’ He had to. Otherwise, he would never be able to look Red, or even Asaemon, in the eyes again. The guilt would be too heavy to bear. Even for him. Gaia fell silent. Yet that silence did not mean her anger had faded. Noah could still feel her wrath and frustration spilling outward in cascading waves. The Prince briefly wondered why her reaction was so intense. What had happened? And then she answered, ’Existence.’ The Will Eternal scowled. ’Control the very meaning of Existence in its primeval form, and you will succeed.’ ’And to make you understand the difficulty, Raj, you need to at least reach my level.’ She paused. ’You need power equivalent to an entire Perfected Reality.’ Then the link was cut. Noah sucked in a deep breath, Gaia’s words reverberating inside his mind. He closed his eyes, feeling Maryam approach him. "Are you okay?" Her voice was thick with worry. With his eyes still closed, Noah managed a strained, weak smile. "Yes," he said, opening them again, "I am fine." Not waiting for her reply, he moved at once, heading toward Maryam’s throne, where the core of the Dominion resided. ’No time to waste,’ Noah thought as he walked, his eyes hardening with each step. ’No time, Noah. No time. The universe will not stop slaughtering your people just to let you think... and doubt.’ He climbed the stairs two at a time and soon reached the grey throne. Once there, the throne cracked open, revealing the core of the Dominion. It was shaped like a Tree formed entirely of fog. He stared at it deeply. "Are you ready?" Noah asked, his voice rasping. Providence answered, her tone carrying a faint trace of forlornness as she sensed Noah’s state. Catching it, Noah smiled faintly. "Don’t worry. I am fine." Then he moved without hesitation. "Let’s begin. Let’s make you The Will of my territory." ... Meanwhile, now free from the clutches of the Soul Ruler, Shadow of One Was Lost, the four dragons stood outside the Dominion itself. All around them, nothing existed except hazy white clouds drifting peacefully. Water, Wind, and Earth all had their eyes on Fire — the one holding an artifact shaped like a compass. The needle of the compass moved sporadically, as if searching desperately for the correct path before settling. "When will this stop?" Wind asked, frustration and anxiety seeping into her voice, her eyes constantly darting around as if expecting an ambush. "Shut up and wait!" Fire growled, the hand gripping the compass trembling subtly. Wind’s face twisted into one of ugly distaste. Her lips curled, ready to spit every profanity she knew, but the sudden, sharp halt of the needle made her snap her mouth shut. All of them focused on the direction the wisp of Elira’s soul was guiding them. They followed where the needle pointed, recalling the rough map of the Spirit World engraved in their minds. Their eyes brightened. They knew exactly where they were heading. "The False Ruler," Water said, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Queen of Fraud." "We’re lucky." —End of Chapter 466—