Will of chaos

Pov Samara:

I stood beside Hades, the conversation with Callidora still playing in my mind. Between the clear threats and the omissions, it was clear something was off. Callidora was in a hurry.

"Samara, what happened?" (Hades)

"What happened?" (Me)

Hades suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts. He shook my shoulders, his eyes serious.

"I'm the one asking, what's happening that makes you look so scared?" (Hades)

"..." (Me)

I brought my hand to my face. That's when I realized my hand was shaking and my skin was covered in goosebumps. I couldn't see my face, but for it to affect me to the point of trembling like that, my face must be extremely pale.

I knew what that feeling was; I'd felt it many times, deeply. I'd also caused that feeling in many others by seeing it in their eyes during their final moments. It was fear.

"Come on, tell me... what's going on?" (Hades)

"..." (me)

"I'm scared..." (me)

"Callidora didn't even bother to answer any questions, which was expected, but her actions at this event, the way she put Niryna, who should have been her most precious possession, at risk, and also how she spoke to me..." (me)

"Callidora is in a hurry; that means she's under pressure from something or someone." (me)

"An Entity, perhaps...?" (Hades)

"Callidora would even face War while laughing... if it's an Entity, then it would be one I don't know. Otherwise, only the Void of the Abyss could be the cause." (me)

"From your tone, it seems you don't believe it." (Hades)

"The Abyss is an ancient and constant enemy, a risk known enough for Callidora to have endless countermeasures to deal with every situation; it wouldn't make sense." (me)

"The truth is, I can't quite fathom what it could be, but whatever it is, something capable of causing this reaction in Callidora... it scares me in a way I never thought possible." (me)

How can I not be afraid of whatever is causing this?

Callidora is an Ancient being, the only existing Entity that comes close to the trinity, and is constantly watching over the System of Creation. How can I not be afraid of something that makes her rush?

"Whatever it is, it's not up to us to decide. Just share your thoughts with Master Zenos, let him decide." (Hades)

"Your loyalty really is ridiculous. Try to think for yourself a little more instead of always relying on Zenos like this." (me)

"Show him that you can actually help him and not just follow orders." (Me)

"..." (Hades)

"I will consider your words..." (Hades)

I spread my wings, returning to the ship being repaired by Ascended converts from Urd.

Hades possesses great potential and power, but his will is sorely lacking. He relies too much on Zenos, thinking it's a symbol of his loyalty, but this only stunts his own growth.

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Pov Paradox:

Watching him disappear was a little funny. Being that young must be incredible, such a desire to make a difference, such senseless boldness, such pure naivety, and an inability to perceive the infinite reactions of each decision.

From beginning to end, he failed to realize one of his main shackles: he'd heard so many times about Entities and Concepts, yet he let the basics go unnoticed and only saw their power or their vast, eternal experience.

He didn't see the same core of all Entities; he didn't realize that Concepts have their own distinct structure, but they all have one thing in common: they all have an origin.

"Everything has an origin, Zenos..." (me)

I stand up as my surroundings shift, darkness seeping from the universal pool, engulfing the pyramid I'm standing in and spreading even to the heavens until nothing remains but darkness around me.

I take a few steps in a random direction; it's been a long time since I felt the sensation of walking, even if only in my mind.

With each step I take, several items rise from the ground. An Egg that seems to be made of mud floats from the darkness, a Universal Golem is bound by chains of darkness, a red gift of pure miasma burns in stinging black and white flames, a Dragon made of Starfire swims through the darkness without moving away, a large eye opens above as tentacles emerge, carrying Vecna ​​bound in ethereal silver bandages.

Vecna ​​looks at me, his gaze still defiant, containing millions of unspoken words and a revolt against everything around him.

"Use your words wisely." (Me)

The bandages leave his mouth as he looks at me as if he hadn't expected me to allow this. While he's still gathering his thoughts, I pull a crystal heart from inside my hood and let it float to an altar of darkness that rises to receive it.

"Why did you let me see your conversation?" (Vecna)

"Because there's no point in hiding it; soon you'll be no more." (Me)

"Where did I leave the Holy Body...?" (Me)

"I remembered..." (Me)

I quickly reach into the opposite mage's body and pull out something that looks like a white doll. It was the holy body I took after Zenos's creation when he transformed that Avatar into this.

"Are you going to kill me?" (Vecna)

"Would it matter?" (me)

"Yes, since while I'm alive, I still have a chance at freedom." (Vecna)

"Then why tell your plans like this? What if I decide to kill you just for hearing this~?" (me)

"What's the point in lying? You're inside my mind." (Vecna)

"I'll never let you out. Your fate was sealed from the moment you chose to use the power I gave you." (me)

"But it's not about you. I know you have something else to ask, so speak up..." (me)

"Why did you manipulate him? Why not carry out your plans now? I know you can turn him into an Entity now if you want." (Vecna)

"He must walk this path alone. The last time I tried to do it by force, I only created an abomination." (Me)

While speaking to him, I walked over to the mud egg. The Soul within, as well as the Existential Spark, were ready. I drew out some of the Anomalous power within it, letting some of my power flow into it, then threw it at the Universal Golem, which was absorbed into the mud egg.

"You told him you had no plans, but look at all this? What are these materials?" (Vecna)

"Just this, materials... some might be useful, while others will be very useful. I'm just using what my hands can reach." (Me)

I picked up the holy body, created a double column of light from which it floated, and then began creating Runes by waving my hands as ritual circles formed in rapid succession.

"What are you doing?" (Vecna)

"A new beginning~..." (me)

It doesn't matter if it's now or not, Zenos is almost ready, but I'm not. Even if everything isn't going perfectly, I see possibilities, I can feel the changes within me at every moment.

The clarity of mind, the ease with which I controlled my emotions, the way my power became easier to manipulate—all of these were indicators of Zenos's influence on me. He was doing his part well, better than anyone else and closer to my desire than I might ever be able to reach again.

"One more step... just one more step to make all this time worth the wait..." (me)

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Pov Davoth:

I was sitting around a table. Cortana was on the other side of the table with Lena at her side. On my left was Igor, on my right was Ronan, and above the table was a mirror showing writhing pieces of flesh, blood, and bone. That was Zenos.

"Say again, what's happening to Zenos?" (me)

"His body is being transformed, his Chaos Concept seems to be awakening, and the Incarnation process has already begun." (Cortana)

"Can someone explain to me what that would be?" (Ronan)

"Entities largely lack bodies, due to many factors, one of which is the inability of a physical vessel to contain infinite power." (me)

"That's why Entities need Avatars, but there are cases where Entities possess physical bodies." (Lena)

"Like the two of them, their bodies are special, a materialization of their Concepts, something difficult to achieve that was only achieved because of Zenos's Chaos power." (me)

"Yes, for those of us who possess bodies, we need to incarnate our Concepts into our bodies, something that is done continually." (Cortana)

"I've heard of that, but why does Zenos seem more like a lump of clay being molded?" (Igor)

"Because his Will is still out of control, his soul deeply wounded, and his energy circle being reshaped." (Lena)

Suddenly, Zenos's body in the image began to reform itself into a single form, but patterns could be seen in his bones, his flesh became ethereal, and his blood seemed to contain endless depth.

A wave of energy spread from his body to the surroundings, containing the power of a Concept. It wasn't an incomplete Concept like before, but it didn't feel right somehow.

"What happened?" (Me)

"Something is still holding him back; his body is finishing the process, but his Soul and Existential Spark haven't yet." (Lena)

"Someone has arrived..." (Igor)

We all turned to see Urd entering, tucking in his wings before sitting around the table with everyone.

"The Universe's conversion process failed; one of the Entities did something." (Urd)

"Was it hate?" (Igor)

"Yes." (Urd)

"How did you know it was hate?" (me)

"Order of elimination, it was impossible to be anyone here at this table, War would do something more direct, Curse seems uninterested in this universe now, and Greed couldn't do anything like that after the concessions he made to bring his main Avatar here." (Igor)

"I understand, but what did Hatred do?" (me)

"He corrupted the Universal Cores, we need to destroy them, I'm content for now, but it won't last forever." (Urd)

"Then Hatred will come attack, he won't wait, he's incapable of waiting, we need to prepare now." (me)