I was facing this mysterious World Tree, I can only imagine that the tree behind it is the appearance of its true body wherever it is in the universe.
In the few words I exchanged with her, I realized that she didn't issue an answer about her identity, nor the need for me to ask questions whose answers I can get from other sources that are easier to find.
It was with that in mind that I asked a question about something I know so little about, I wanted to know more about this Power of Chaos that everyone says I have and until now I don't remember having felt it even once.
"The power of Chaos is different from other types of power or energy, it is pure essence."
"You cannot manipulate this power, you cannot wield this power, you cannot control this power..."
She waves her hand upwards and the sky that was pitch black just like everything else was before the tree came into being, suddenly lit up with an image of the universe.
On one side there was a sun that could be seen, but its light didn't illuminate the darkness as expected, it was some kind of illusion maybe.
On the other side, there was a moon and a planet in the middle between the two celestial bodies, there were countless stars all around the sky as well as black holes, nebulae, and even asteroids passing through the sky.
"The universe seen from afar may seem in harmony, everything fits perfectly when you see it from far enough away, but that harmony arises and ends in chaos, this is an endless and eternal cycle."
Before my eyes everything was destroyed, the stars died out one at a time, the sun expanded before it went out, the moon fell on the planet destroying both and the black hole consumed the nebula, in the end, nothing was left before the debris gathered generating more energy that generates an explosion making the universe come back into existence, not the same universe as before, but a different one.
"The cycle of existence is creation, evolution, destruction, transformation, and then it all goes back to the beginning with creation once more."
"Harmony represents the powers of creation and evolution, all types of energies and elements are within this concept."
"Chaos represents the other two concepts, destruction and transformation don't have energies or anything else within them, but parts of those concepts are found in everything that harmony represents."
"Fire can be used to create and also to destroy, this is a simple example to understand, but the same can be said about all other elements."
"Chaos cannot be contained in a body, form or energy because there is no such thing as its concept and never will be."
She looks at me as I contemplate her words, it feels more like I'm taking a philosophy class using astronomy knowledge than having my question answered, I can understand what she means but it's too vague.
"Your chaos power is connected not to your body or even your Soul, it is connected with the spark of your existence, your essence, you have been using the chaos power since the beginning and never realized it."
"Do you think that just being a child of the Blood Goddess it would be possible to incorporate so many types of Bloodlines into your body? Do you think you would be able to jump from one race to another or even create new races so easily? Do you really think you would be able to support all kinds of pure elements in your body that wasn't made from the beginning for that, what are Old Elves like?"
"Chaos transformation is the state of change, you create or change your own path of existence, it is fundamentally different from evolution which is a change within the same path."
"Your Aura contains the traits of Life and Death, do you really think you would be able to maintain those two traits without being destroyed if it wasn't for the chaos within you?"
"Saying that you possess the power of chaos is just superficial, if you explain it more comprehensively, you are an incarnation of chaos, you are part of chaos."
"Chaos is the opposite of harmony and because of this fact the two concepts balancing each other has always been the norm of nature."
"..." (I)
I had a lot to think about now, she said that I am a part of Chaos, but it's not my body or Soul but something even deeper, was I using this power all along without realizing it?
"You said chaos represents both destruction and transformation, but all the examples you've given fall under the transformation trait." (I)
"Where does destruction come in?" (I)
"You don't seem to understand, transformation only happens after destruction."
"What do you mean..." (I)
I couldn't help but be horrified at the thought that went through my head as I analyzed what she just said.
I don't know if it was fear, surprise, or my willingness to deny what I'm thinking right now, but my vision was getting blurry.
"Our time seems to be running out, you must have felt the touch on your body this whole time, that was my sister trying to help you, now it's time to say goodbye Chaos Incarnation... goodbye Zenos..."
"Wait!!! I still have... questions..." (I)
It felt like there was a switch inside my head on and off that someone pressed making my consciousness disappear all at once.
But for a moment it felt like the last part of the goodbyes was her looking up at the sky and not at me.
-------------
Pov Juliano (Founder of the Black Empire):
I spat out some teeth and a piece of my missing tongue before putting my broken nose back in place.
Edward's entire body and clothes were covered in a metallic-like golden hue, there were several cracks that oozed golden liquid, and one of Edward's eyes was missing with a black flame in its place as a result of one of my attacks.
"Why don't you just die!" (Edward)
"I can say the same about you, but I don't think even death will release you now." (I)
I look at his completely golden body, even the blood was golden, it means that his Bloodline as a Human has already been lost, he is not covering his body with a layer of golden metal materialized with his power, the fool has given his entire body to the God of light.
"She would be disappointed with your appearance..." (I)
"< Solar Extinction >" (Edward)
"< Cloak of 10000 Demons >" (I)
I wave my hand making a gesture as if pulling a cloth, I grabbed the space tearing a part of it to cover myself as it became a shroud of purple energy with countless eyes and hands emerging from it all the time.
Edward's attack was unexpected for using such a strong technique that he was still unaware of in such a reckless manner.
His attack was more than powerful as his body emits white flames that expanded throughout the space burning everything.
My technique separated me from the space itself to protect me, but it didn't seem to be enough when the space itself was on fire.
"< Holy Solar Sword >" (Edward)
"< Hell Executioner Ax >" (I)
A giant sword whose white blade is stuck on the edge of a ring with a Sun in the middle falls towards me, I knew that to use this technique now it wouldn't stop in just one strike, so I was already ready when creating an Ascending Axe coming out of a crack in the space below me.
The two weapons meet generating an explosion that disperses the white flames and destroys my protective cloak, when I look at Edward I realize that his last ring has broken, an item of protection just like the others.
"Enough of this, let's finish it in the next attack!" (I)
"< I call to the one who rules over all that the light touches.
I cry out to him who bestows his Blessings on the purest of those who follow him.
I make myself a tool and a mirror so that his light reaches the darkness that hides, granting the annihilation of all impurity. >" (Edward)
"< Relic of Aura: Queen of Sin >" (I)
This was the moment I'd been waiting for and the one I least wanted to happen, but Edward left me no choice.
He listens to my words to go for the last blow, I know that's all he wanted, wait for me to show everything I have before making his own attack, as soon as I saw his body I knew he had made his own body a holy relic and that could only mean one thing.
I see him doing the prayer to call at least a part of the power of the God of Light or maybe even a fragment of will, he made his own body a vessel for that purpose, all to destroy me and it would have worked if I allowed him to complete his goal.
My Aura Relic is something that marked my mind, Aura, and even my Soul as the first sin I committed, a sin that at least for me was the worst of all and that caused the greatest of all sufferings in my life.
An Aura that was all over this space now in ruins gathers in front of me when 4 red horns encrusted with purple jewels appear along with Black Flames that spread out forming a humanoid figure that crystallizes.
The layer of crystal peels off revealing a young woman who appears to be in her 20s, she has brown hair and eyes with the whites of her eyes turning completely black, her skin is white as snow and she is dressed entirely in a red dress, she has a gentle smile that doesn't quite fit with his presence filled with murderous intent.
I managed for her to appear just as Edward finished the prayer and just before I channeled the power as that would be the moment her mind was most vulnerable.
Just as I thought, as soon as the woman emerged, Edward's eyes were locked on her face in disbelief causing the power he had gathered in his body to go out of control and ravage him from within, even more golden blood pouring from his eyes, ears, and mouth.
"Lydia... my dear Lydia..." (Edward)
She approaches him fearlessly, her smile so gentle and her eyes kind, he no longer has any of his barriers after our long struggle, she reaches him and holds out her arms without saying anything and he gives himself into a hug.
"You beat Juliano... ghuhhh!!!!" (Edward)
Those were her last words as Lydia reached across his back with one hand as she hugged him, then destroyed his heart by squeezing him in her hands.
Words filled with more hate than I've ever felt coming from him before, I knew there was nothing that would hurt him and me more than that.
"Goodbye, my dear Edward…" (Lydia)
"Ly...ddiaaaa...." (Edward)
Her body fragments more and more until it becomes golden dust that spreads until there is nothing left in Lydia's arms.