Глава 15

<p=1>Assimilated Universe</><p=2>When 'she' awakens</>

Theresis falls in the ocean of information. The massive quantity buffets him, assimilating his cognition.

He can feel his mind grow slow, but he still tries to follow the guidance left behind by Theresa—

Guided by his sword, the information flow reconstructed by Theresa clashes with the preexisting one.

The massive collision lasts only an instant.

The surface begins to surge. Then, the sea splits open, as if sliced by a sharp blade.

A dark abyss appears in the Assimilated Universe. The sea of data stirs and roils.

Waves crashing against waves, drowning out one another.

Even as his mind grows numb, Theresis can sense the will gazing upon him weaken rapidly.

Your plan worked, Theresa.

Sever their control over Amnannam and seize it—

But suddenly, all the violent scenes come to a screeching halt.

She opens her eyes and sees the small, frail creature.

(Unknown language) Connection... unstable.

(Unknown language) —It's you?

(Unknown language) Your actions surprise me.

(Unknown language) ...'Theresa' and 'Theresis'.

Theresis does not comprehend the space before him. Perhaps it is simply another illusion of a dying mind—

Until he hears a familiar language that he can understand.

Ah, but perhaps this was the result that one wanted to see?

Your intentions are as easy to decipher as your language.

The evolution of Terra had brought many surprises... a shame.

You think we failed.

Then why do you hide and refuse to show yourself?

He meditatively swings his sword, guiding the chaotic information through the pure-white space...

Falsehoods.

You've implemented a backdoor in my project and restricted my access.

The data tells me I'm losing this piece of Originium. My attempts at maintenance have been in vain.

Impressive. Your rash actions have borne fruit.

There is nothing physically imposing to the voice whispering about failure before Theresis.

But this simply serves to make him more wary.

Your arrogance reminds me of someone.

Someone who deceived me. There is more than one evil spirit of a bygone age.

Dr. {@nickname}... I see you've met.

Then let me introduce myself.

Priestess. Linguist, and colleague to Dr. {@nickname}.

Theresis cannot care less who Priestess is.

Priestess or evil spirit, it makes no difference to him.

He clutches his sword tightly. He will find a way to break through.

You are anxious to defy a reality that you cannot perceive, Theresis.

You were much calmer when you plotted with {@nickname} on the border of Kazdel.

You were watching...

Watching? No.

I have long lost the energy and passion to observe the evolution of a newborn civilization.

All I did was look up the data newly added to Originium, and checked some information that interested me.

The expansion of Originium is a consensus between me and {@nickname}.

The current circumstances of Terra have somewhat differed from our predictions, but it remains on track.

I admit to being surprised by your attempt to retake this Originium, but the duty of it will be fulfilled, no matter how you struggle.

You can believe what you want, creator of Originium.

You believe that Originium is immovable, but she opened a path here, and liberated the myriad souls.

She was not the first to resist, and I will not be the last. Someone will stand before you—

Until there is none left to toy with our fate.

'Fate'... do you continue to believe that Originium stands opposed to the fate of your civilization?

If you truly understand the history of your people, have you ever questioned why you have evolved in our likeness?

You do not understand what you are resisting.

Theresis observes his surroundings. He is certain that he is still inside Originium.

The nature of what makes up this place is no different from the tower that Theresa weaved—it is information reconstructed.

Theresa has left him the key. He is sure he can put an end to this enigma.

You noticed.

You do not have a real physical form. We're still in that ocean.

In the language of Originium, reality and falsehood are not polar opposites.

When I first created this language, I wanted it to decipher the ultimate question that we had been unable to answer, despite all our efforts.

<i>It.</i>

But they are doomed to despair.

'Teekaz'. You were not part of the plan, but you became the species most affected by Originium. An accident.

I must applaud your courage for standing here.

An accident...? Is this how you summarize our fate?

You're certainly alike, Priestess.

You call the fates you toy with a gift of hope, millennia of suffering a necessary sacrifice.

But {@nickname} was honest, at least.

His sword pierces falsehood, but the space on the other side—

Nothing changed?

Theresis closes his eyes and raises his sword.

Your violence is meaningless.

If you didn't care whether this pathetic race of mine can seize its own fate, you should have eliminated me already.

You're still weak after awakening from a long dream, are you not, Presence?

He lunges without hesitation.

The sword-wave cuts through the figure, disappearing without a sound into the pale white wall in the distance.

I said, this is meaningless.

Another strike.

I've always wondered—what exactly is the difference between you, the self-proclaimed creators, and us?

Theresis holds nothing back. The white wall begins to crack.

You have not brought everything to a standstill.

You just wanted to buy more time, or simply to mock the struggles of a pathetic race...

Suit yourself, Priestess.

Once again, Theresis senses the surging tide of information, remnants of the broken tower that Theresa weaved.

Theresis swings again.

Golden seawater shatters the pale wall, rushing into this seemingly boundless white space.

The tide swallows all that it sees, but parts before the figure of Priestess...

Like a static comet, leaving behind a black tail of calm in the sea of surging fury.

Your connection to the Originium is weakening. You are fading away.

Continuing to process this disorganized data is a waste of energy.

The waves converge upon the last area, slowly submerging Priestess's figure.

They also close in upon Theresis.

Is this the end that you sought?

The Sarkaz data has corrupted part of the Assimilated Universe. The data has been deleted, but I do not have time right now to repair the rewritten structures.

You can 'survive' in the Assimilated Universe in another form.

Survive?

I came to pass judgment upon the gods.

The Sarkaz swings his sword at the creator one last time, before the torrent of information engulfs him.