Divine Apostasy Book 11 - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

With so much to explain, saying Varnoth’s name had been an obvious mistake.

“Where is Rami?” Miranda asked.

Ruin felt more vulnerable than he had in a very long time. If Miranda turned crazy, his only chance would be to retreat into the Destruction Realm, where he at least had willpower he could wield as a weapon.

“I'll explain everything,” Ruin responded, “but despite how upset you become, please know I have critical information that I need to pass along before I'm dead.”

Miranda continued to stare, so Ruin took that as a yes.

“I'll skip a bunch of stuff to get to the part you want to hear. I basically came back to life in this body and had barely gotten my bearings when a rift appeared, and Rami exited.”

“What do you mean by rift?” Miranda asked.

“I didn't know at the time, but now I know Rami ripped a hole in the Destruction Realm from the void.”

“Rami was in the void?” Miranda asked.

“Yes. Rami and I barely had a chance to talk when another rift appeared, and the person I know as Varnoth came out. He’d been drawn to this location because of Rami’s void tear.”

Ruin continued. “He didn't seem pleased, and then the drawing Blapy gave me triggered, and a version of you appeared. The spell, uh, kind of screamed at Varnoth for a long time.”

For the first time, Miranda's expression changed. “How did he respond?”

“I’m not an expert, but I think he felt a lot of guilt. Especially when he, you know, saw Rami.”

“And where is Rami?”

Ruin braced himself. “She went with him to train in the void. We made a schedule to see each other.”

“That selfish piece of—”

Miranda stopped herself, and her eyes bored into Ruin. “I know this is not your issue, but for Rami’s sake, please bring that pair to the realm threshold so I can speak to them myself.”

“Sure, you know I'll do my best.”

“What's this critical information you found?” Blapy asked.

Ruin took a deep breath and then spoke in a rush, careful to avoid using Varnoth’s name since that triggered Miranda, and completely skipped the part where the void wyrm had berated him and Rami for their poor spiritual network.

“I’ve come across items called Paragon Jewels, and they appear to interact with the meridian connections. Specifically, they are a way to make connections where they didn't exist before. What I just learned is there are two other mechanisms that can do the same. One involves the magic of the Radiant faction, and the other is this.”

Ruin summoned the quest reward into his hand.

“I thought your void band didn't work,” Blapy stated.

“It doesn't,” Ruin responded. “This is some dimensional space I got because of my new class.”

Miranda nodded at the book. “What does it say?”

“First, let me tell you something that guy told me. I learned that in the Outerverse, having all your meridians connected to your center is unremarkable. What we call axioms, they expect their children to achieve.”

Confused and shocked looks hung on everyone's faces.

Ruin tapped his chest. “He wasn't very impressed with me because the strength of my connections and the wideness of my pathways indicated how weak my foundation was.”

Ruin held up the book. “I'll explain in more detail later, but Destruction essence consumed all the soul energy in my cells. It turns out Destruction essence is far more energetic than soul power, and the process advanced my fortification to Archangel. This completed one of my quests, and this book was the reward.”

After a pause, Ruwen stated the fact that had made him rush here. “It details the methods anyone can use to become an Axiom.”

“What?” Miranda asked softly.

“It's true. I've glanced through it. The process isn't that complicated. With the knowledge in that book, everyone in this universe could be an Axiom.”

No one spoke, and Miranda's hand trembled as she hesitantly pointed at the book.

“What is your intention with that knowledge?”

“First, which is why I came back, I'm getting all my friends started on the path to becoming gods. Then,” Ruin shrugged, “I don't know. We’ll all need to decide together. On one hand, it seems unfair to hide this from everyone, but on the other, there are a lot of bad people, and this would only make them stronger.”

No one spoke for ten seconds, and then Blapy broke the silence.

“Fractal woke up. He figured it out. The God Stone.”

Hamma held Ruin steady as he wavered on his feet. Another massive piece of his dream had just fallen into place.

Ruin could see the massive desire Miranda tried to suppress. She painfully avoided looking at the book sitting on the table.

“Rami has already absorbed the contents, and normally I'd ask her to make copies at the library. I was hoping you could help me since she's busy.”

“What do you need?” Miranda asked.

“I want you to make copies for me and study the contents. There’s a purification elixir we should try and reproduce with ingredients from our world. Although I might be able to find the actual ingredients as I've gained access to Outerverse items. It's coupled with a visualization technique and small needles placed in specific body points.”

Ruin sensed some of the excitement disappearing from Miranda and Blapy, and immediately understood why. The two beings in front of him were actually clones of the real Miranda, who remained trapped in the Third Secret. Her location made it impossible to deliver the purification ingredients, and if they were strange and unique to the Outerverse, she wouldn't know how to replicate them with her architect role.

“The elixir doesn't seem necessary and is only beneficial for those in the lower tiers. A Divine-fortified body would likely not benefit at all.”

Both clones grinned, unable to hide their relief.

“How many copies do you want?” Blapy asked.

Ruin counted on his fingers as he listed off those in the first wave. “Hamma, Sift, Lylan, Xavier, my mom and dad, Madda, Padda, Phoenix, and you. Oh, we need to add Uru, Tremine, and Ky.”

Blapy stood on her chair and leaned over the table to grasp the book. She held it reverently, and her eyes glistened.

Miranda spoke. “Even if such methods are common in the Outerverse, this knowledge represents a seismic shift in power. Once again, I’m amazed and humbled by your complete unselfishness. Your only thoughts are to protect those you care about and help those in need. When offered such a decisive method to wield ultimate power over the inhabitants of this universe, your only desire is to share that knowledge as quickly and responsibly as possible.”

Miranda bowed deeply and held it for three seconds before standing. “We will do as you ask.”

Thirteen copies appeared on the table.

Hamma released Ruin and removed three copies from the pile, and then a fourth for Xavier. Blapy appeared at Ruin's side and held up the original. He touched it, and it disappeared into his inventory.

“Can you deliver the other copies for me?” Ruin asked Blapy.

Blapy nodded gravely.

“Don't forget to bring Rami and that despicable wyrm to the threshold so I can speak with them,” Miranda said.

“I won't,” Ruin responded. “Is Rami in any danger?”

Miranda didn't respond immediately. “There’s nothing more dangerous than the void. Our universe is like a nest that protects us from it. Rami has already proven she can swim in that dangerous ocean. Despite my feelings regarding the void wyrm, he will not endanger his daughter. With a little void training, I think Rami will never be in danger again, and that brings happiness to my heart.”

Ruin thought about all the people he’d upset in the Outerverse. Valora had made it sound like his impending death was assured. He already walked a path he believed led to vast power, certainly more than anything that had come before.

Just in case it wasn't enough, perhaps he should explore this connection he felt to the void through Rami. Maybe it would provide another shield he could use to protect those he loved.

With so much on the line, Ruin didn't want to risk keeping information to himself that might prove important for everyone’s safety, especially if their enemies were gathering in the Outerverse.

Ruin met Miranda's gaze. “Before you leave, I have some things to tell you. The Outerverse is so much bigger and more complicated than I'd ever contemplated. There might be a reason why this Outerverse knowledge was lost to us, and that reason might still be here.”