Chapter 1841 Harmony [6]
'Has anyone else perceived these concepts like this?'
It was a question Damien asked himself multiple times while he was with Existence. It was such a unique experience that he really couldn't imagine someone else doing the same.
But...he had the subtle understanding that this was his path to becoming Absolute, so hadn't at least one other person experienced the same thing? n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
He only had such thoughts because he didn't understand how much of an outlier he was. Living beings simply weren't meant to perceive the emotions of these concepts. Before Damien came, these emotions were hidden and vague. He was the one who came along and gave them deeper meaning, bolstering the concepts in the process.
However, even the primal emotions felt by Nonexistence before his arrival weren't privy to anyone else.
The minds of living beings weren't equipped to define such concepts as Existence and Nonexistence. Putting them into simple terms and comprehending them was already something that only the best of the best could do. To truly understand their metaphorical hearts?
If anyone else was forced to bear the brunt of those emotions, their minds would break. No matter who or what they were, this result would remain the same.
Was it the Void Physique's aid? It was normal for the Void Physique to give Damien opportunities barred from others. Its influence was the very reason why he grew at the rate he did, especially during his younger years.
When he had that thought, two concepts within him rebelled, as if to tell him that wasn't the case. They who perceived the Void as their parent knew that he possessed its blessing, and they could confidently say that such blessings were not the cause of his success.
No, it was something more primal, something within Damien, that gave him such a supreme ability of communication.
'Something within me...'
Perhaps they were referring to a talent like his comprehension ability, but Damien felt differently. When they said it was something within him, it felt like they were referring to his soul. 'Status'
[Status]
[Damien Void]
Title(s): [•••••••, Apostle of the Void, Evolver, Heaven's Wrath, Supreme Genius]
It was a question that all of them wanted to ask, but the Elder stopped them before they could approach him.
Damien stood up, slightly nodding to him in thanks.
Both he and the Elder could tell that he was no longer the same person he entered the waters as. There was a different kind of aura about him, one that was less inviting and made everyone around him feel like they were required to bow.
It was the essence of a ruler. It was a sign that Damien finally dropped his biases.
To be Absolute was not to abandon humanity. Damien's own path to that level relied on the very humanity that he held so close.
However, being human wasn't what Damien originally interpreted it as either. He didn't have to hold biases and perceptions that valued humanity over all else. He didn't have to put humanity on a pedestal and ignore everything else.
All he needed to do was keep his core properties, the pieces of him that allowed him to be compassionate or kind. To empathize with both concepts and people was not human. It was beyond the level a human could reach, but it was still very reminiscent of the meaning of humanity.
'It's always a good moment when you find a path.'
To see the way forward and confidently walk without fearing the darkness was a beautiful feeling. In the end, his destination was in front of him. All he needed to do to reach it was walk.
He had been in this position many times before, but it felt fresh no matter how many times he experienced it. Whether he was a young sapling just starting to grow or an old tree preparing to reach its final form, the feeling of finding the way forward would always make him smile.
Damien remained on the third island for quite some time. He formed his own small hut away from the society existing there and focused on training Nonexistence. In the meantime, several people arrived on the fourth island.
Those like Kura were already close to graduating from the third island when he arrived. The pipeline that was frozen on the first and second islands continued from the third to the fourth. Over ten people arrived. Some of them went through the rituals and some didn't. Regardless, none of them escaped the waters of nothingness while Damien was there.
It was about three years if he had to quantify it. During that time, he expanded his imagination and communicated with Nonexistence. Through this training, he was able to significantly increase its level.
He only needed one final push to attain the heights he strived for.
And that...
Clearly, it was waiting for him on the fifth and final island.