Return of the Shattered Constellation

<Dull Darkness> quickly looked up, raising one of his eyebrows behind the white mask. “He took everything?”

<Dull Darkness> had set Chang-Sun free so that he wouldn’t lose his teacher, but it seemed he was using his freedom as an opportunity to start an absolute disaster. Right now, he was cannibalizing all the <Stars> whom <Dull Darkness> had captured using R’lyeh as bait.

Although <Dull Darkness> was unsure how to properly describe the current situation, he was certain that Chang-Sun was the only one who benefited from all his hard work.

<Dull Darkness> chuckled dryly.

[<Deus Ex Machina> asks his twin brother if they should just leave him be.]

[<Deus Ex Machina> says that he thought they needed <Star Fragments> to resurrect <First Star>.]

<Dull Darkness> nodded. “That’s right.”

<First Star>’s resurrection was <Dull Darkness>’ long-standing wish. It was the reason he headed to the Imaginary Plane in the first place. Since he planned to merge the <Star Fragments> of <Stars> to resurrect <First Star>, those imprisoned in the Tower were very valuable to him.

To make matters worse, retrieving new <Star Fragments> had been taking a lot longer lately. They used to capture a lot of <Stars> regularly, but ever since a hierarchy was formed among <Stars>, they had stopped recklessly messing with R’lyeh.

Chang-Sun was taking all those <Star Fragments>. There was no knowing how long it would take to acquire such an amount of <Star Fragments>—no, maybe it was impossible, meaning the attempt to resurrect <First Star> was going to fail.

<Dull Darkness> added, “There is no need to worry, though.”

[<Deus Ex Machina> asks for an explanation, unable to fully understand what his twin brother is trying to say.]

“I obtained quite a lot of <Star Fragments> in the Unreal World. That should be enough. Even if it isn’t…”

[<Deus Ex Machina> tilts his head in confusion, wondering if there is another reason.]

“... Teacher doesn’t really need it anymore.”

[<Deus Ex Machina> tilts his head even further.]

<Deus Ex Machina>’s message window soon turned red.

[<Deus Ex Machina> gasps, wondering if his guess is right!]

<Dull Darkness> chuckled. “I think it is.”

[<Deus Ex Machina> screams!]

[<Deus Ex Machina> asks how someone can be stronger than he already is!]

[<Deus Ex Machina> protests that this is unprecedented!]

“It’s not like there are a lot of people like us either.”

[<Deus Ex Machina> screams that this is still unfair!]

<First Star> had died but was not annihilated because <Dull Darkness> had succeeded in using his ability to restore <First Star>’s shell. They initially planned to use <Star Fragments> to fill it up, but it had suddenly acquired new insight, filling its empty self with the light of a soul that had come out from that realization!

Unlike the Emperors who obtained freedom and surpassed the Great and Outer Universes by becoming the only kind of their existences, this soulless shell was about to become an Emperor by surpassing the limits that it was bound to have.

Such a feat would require incomparably more effort than the first time <First Star> became an Emperor, so <Deus Ex Machina> couldn’t help but chaotically send message after message in hopes of figuring out how it was possible.

Creeeak―!

Like a machine breaking down because it hadn’t been properly oiled, the gears in the golden mechanical eyes stopped rotating.

[<Deus Ex Machina> lets out a long sigh and says that maybe this is to be expected from <First Star>!]

<Deus Ex Machina> decided to simply embrace the truth. Even though it was still hard to believe, <First Star> was one of the main reasons <Dull Darkness> became who he was today. If anyone could accomplish such a feat, it had to be him.

[<Deus Ex Machina> mumbles that he is not sure what to call an Emperor’s shell that has become a new Emperor.]

<Deus Ex Machina> couldn’t help but be concerned that perhaps the being was both <First Star> and not <First Star> at the same time.

“He hasn’t reached that league yet, so we don’t have to reach conclusions right now.” <Dull Darkness> smiled faintly. “However, I am certain that Teacher will still be Teacher even if he changes.”

[<Deus Ex Machina> grumbles that <First Star> is already a man with a bad temper! Things will only get weirder if he changes.]

“I’m going to tattle on you.”

[<Deus Ex Machina> looks away, pretending not to hear what his twin brother said just now.]

[<Deus Ex Machina> says that he now understands why his twin brother likes the child.]

<Dull Darkness> tilted his head. “Me? Why do you think so?”

Considering Chang-Sun had voluntarily gone to hell to save their baby sister, it was only natural for <Dull Darkness> to grow fond of him. However, from <Deus Ex Machina>’s perspective, <Dull Darkness> more than just favored Chang-Sun.

[<Deus Ex Machina> is sure that it is because his twin brother sees himself in the child because of their similarities.]

“… I'm going to kill you if you keep this nonsense up.”

[<Deus Ex Machina> tilts his head, wondering how his twin brother perceived his remarks.]

[<Deus Ex Machina> quickly explains that both his twin brother and the child are students who are worried about their teachers.]

Glaring at the message window, <Dull Darkness> chuckled dumbfoundedly. “Ha!”

[<Deus Ex Machina> asks his twin brother what is wrong, his eyes twinkling innocently.]

<Dull Darkness> clicked his tongue and shook his head at <Deus Ex Machina>’s shamelessness. It used to be fun to bully him because of his innocence, but it seemed <Dull Darkness> couldn’t do that anymore. <Deus Ex Machina> had likely gotten his shamelessness from <Supreme Light> during his long stay in the ‘Changgong Library’ as a librarian. He had taken after him far too much.

<Dull Darkness> felt the need to pick a date and go for a round with his sibling. With <Deus Ex Machina> constantly trying to mess with him, he had to put him in his place and show him who was the older brother again. <Deus Ex Machina> would freak out if he learned what <Dull Darkness> was thinking, though.

Snatch!

<Dull Darkness> grabbed the empty air.

[Grabbing the ‘Huge Wheel’!]

Metatron, Baal, the Eight Gods of Disorder, Sun Wukong, the other invaders… everyone suddenly stopped. Worldline #801, the world where the Tower was, the Great Universe beyond the Worldline, and the Outer Universe also came to a halt.

Since a Small Wheel only had authority over a Worldline and the Big Wheel over Eros, they found the need for a broader concept. Hence, he created the Huge Wheel. Right now, every area that an Emperor could perceive was within <Dull Darkness>’s grasp.

[<Deus Ex Machina> shakes his head, muttering that his twin brother’s ability is still preposterously good.]

Not all Emperors could accomplish such a feat. Considering his ability just mediated the law of causality, <Deus Ex Machina> couldn’t even imagine using such an ability.

[<Deus Ex Machina> is certain that <First Star> is not the only one who has changed.]

[<Deus Ex Machina> watches <Dull Darkness> at work, noticing that he is close to achieving ‘Transcendence.’][1]

Click, click, click―!

As the gears in the golden mechanical eyes fiercely rotated, <Dull Darkness> stopped smiling. His eyes became as cold as an abyss.

[<Deus Ex Machina> snaps at his brother to do it quickly if he is going to do something!]

[<Deus Ex Machina> complains that there are too many parts in the System that he has to mediate if the law of casualty is paused even for a second.]

“Alright. Let’s take care of the uninvited guests first.”

<Dull Darkness> rotated his fist.

Boom, boom, boom!

Sun Wukong and all the other invaders exploded like fireworks.

[<Deus Ex Machina> nods as he watches the invaders get obliterated.]

[<Deus Ex Machina> says that there is nothing more pitiful than getting beaten up without even being able to move.]

[<Deus Ex Machina> does not offer his condolences to those who were killed for running wild in their presence despite knowing his twin brother’s temper!]

…

[<Deus Ex Machina> is certain.]

[<Deus Ex Machina> mumbles that <First Star> bequeathed his bad temper to <Dull Darkness> and his twin brother is doing the same thing to their brother-in-law!]

As <Dull Darkness> planned in detail how he would teach his brother a lesson and fix his bad habits, <Deus Ex Machina> sorrowed over his brother’s ill temper, warmly showing their love for one another.

Receiving an endless stream of messages from <Deus Ex Machina>, <Dull Darkness> frowned. “Hey, do you want me to deal with you next?”

[<Deus Ex Machina> quickly flees!]

* * *

[The Authority ‘Execution Sword’ has been activated, starting a Divine Trial!]

[Bringing the defendants before the court.]

[Defendant 1]

Divine Name: New Tian Shi Yuan.

Faction: ■■. (Unknown)

Real Name: Richardus the Grain Star.

Swooosh―!

Spatial gaps opened up all over the space. Divine Steel chains then flew out from them.

Clink, clink, clink!

The shackles around Richardus’ wrists and ankles held him up in the air. Having been hit with <Duskfall> and Rádĭus too many times, he now looked helpless and haggard. Half of his face had been destroyed, making it difficult to recognize him.

Chang-Sun silently watched Richardus, who was in a cangue. Even though he had already crushed him, the anger in his heart still ferociously burned. Richardus had toyed around with him for so long, caused his friends to suffer, and brought sorrow to the Emperor’s Seat. The fire of his anger was too strong to be extinguished.

With his head drooping, Richardus chuckled. Noticing that he seemed to be muttering something, Chang-Sun paid closer attention.

“I never imagined… becoming this mess…!”

Chang-Sun’s eyes grew colder.

[The ‘eye in the darkness’ has opened!]

Thanatos, the Judge, entered the courtroom. The time had come to ask Richardus about Mephistopheles.

1. 'Transcendence' is for SLR characters and <Transcendence> is for TDTR characters ☜