Ravings and Horror

Whoosh!

Solomon was greeted with a colossal sword soaked in red light, which was thrusted with such force by Aucuses that it entirely shredded the very fabric of reality.

A phantom of crimson moon rose just above the sword. The crimson moonlight with the authority of "Yin" flowed onto the sword. The moonlight swirled around the blade before combining with the red light on the sword, further saturating the light and turning it blood red.

'What the hell is this sword?' Solomon thought in shock, while all of his senses and instincts screamed in danger, the kind that could take his life in an instant.

He was most surprised by the sword. Within the sword, he felt the authority of "Twilight" and "Sun." He couldn't fathom how that was possible in the first palace. The authority of "Yin" was now combined with the sword, making it even more powerful.

Just then, a legend about Aucuses that he had heard when he was an archangel flashed through his mind. He had dismissed it at the time because he thought the legend was outrageous and false, but this was totally due to his prejudice against Aucuses.

According to legend, the white angel betrayed the creator by stabbing his sword into the creator's heart under the twilight of the sun. The sword was completely stained with the blood of the creator. It also said to have cast "Twilight" over the entire world before to the cataclysm, foreshadowing the end.

This legend led many people to claim that the sword of Aucuses was the most powerful weapon on the planet.

If this is indeed that sword, he is certain that he has no chance under it. Solomon felt remorse as he reflected on his past. But he didn't dwell on it and instead focused on the situation at hand.

He didn't use his authority to twist anything related to the sword, because he knew it would utterly fail.

The sword was ripping the fabric of reality; without the foundation of reality, his authority would be completely vulnerable. He cannot bring disorder to void because there is only nothingness in void. This was one of his weaknesses, which he had recognised a long time ago, and he had already devised a method to make up for his weakness.

Solomon rose from his shattered throne and gazed at the blood sword. He raised his hand and made a twisting gesture, while also asserting his authority of "Disorder."

But, just then, a sound of laughter pierced his ears, echoing around him.

Solomon's hand froze, and his gaze was drawn to Aucuses who was staring at him, while thrusting the blood sword towards him.

Aucuses laughed, and the purple book in his hands shimmered. The eye in the centre of the book cover began to glow with light.

He opened his mouth and spoke words that most common people wouldn't understand.

These words entwined to form terrifying and crazy ravings.

"You are truly amusing, Solomon."

"You recall the angel in whom you had the most faith. Trunsoest is truly one-of-a-kind. As he seeks order and justice above all."

"It's odd that you trusted him despite knowing all of this. But, considering your character, you must have dismissed him as a coward and weakling, but ironically, he was the first to nail your coffin shut."

"Your empire, of which you were so proud, is collapsing. Your ostensibly loyal subjects are showing their true colours."

"How do you feel, Solomon?"

"Betrayed by those closest to you and abandoned by those who swore allegiance to you. To be left all alone in this dark cosmos, only capable of witnessing your life crumble before your eyes and being powerless to prevent it."

"How does it feel, Solomon??"

"And it's quite funny, Solomon. That you still think everything I did was just to destroy you?"

"Let me tell you the truth. Everything I did was designed to bring down Sasrir. It's amazing to think that 'He' has continued to dominate the planet and shape it to 'His' liking even after 'His' death."

"You, on the other hand, are nothing more than a poor worm in my way."

Aucuses was deliberately using "information" to fill up the ravings, through the authority of "Knowledge". He used this to subject Solomon to the effects of a two-pronged attack: the mental corruption caused by his ravings, and the corresponding information to distract and torment him.

He did this to disrupt Solomon's actions and push him to the brink of losing control, allowing him to thrust his sword into Solomon and kill him in a single blow.

His ravings are far from ordinary; with the authority of the hermit and the status of god, his ravings can affect even true gods. This is even more so for Solomon, whose anchors are collapsing along with his empire.

At that instant, the ravings of Aucuses echoed in Solomon's mind like sharp blades piercing through his psyche, tearing down his mind.

The information poured into his mind, presenting everything that was going on in the world.

The fall of his empire, the betrayal of the angels' families, indifference of everyone...

The pictures replayed in his mind again and again, striving to dismantle him into the last of his bits.

Solomon's form collapsed onto his throne, becoming pitch black like shadow, with countless eyes sprawled all over him.

He was filled with regret, pain and agony when he saw those images, and the emotions began to cloud his mind and heart.

However, he was able to suppress these ravings and emotions for a split second due to his sheer willpower and authority. He then asserted his "Disorder" authority without hesitation.

He distorted the concept of "Sound", while also distorting the concepts of "Space" and "Distance" surrounding his figure, to increase the distance between him and the sword. Despite the fact that he knew this distortion would be immediately broken with the reality shattering of the sword. This will at least buy him some time, which he desperately needs.

The ravings was silenced and the blood sword that was close to his vision become distant.

Immediately seizing this opportunity, Solomon desperately used his remaining anchors and authority to stabilise his mind while removing the information and pollution in his mind.

His mind and body improved visibly; the eyes on his shadowy figure began to fade one by one. He finally avoided the fate of complete loss of control.

But, just then, a flash of golden light swept through the surroundings, with the aura of "Order."

The "Order" of Aucuses rendered his distortions in the concepts of Sound, Space, and Distance completely void.

As he felt the "Order," Solomon's eyes flashed with deep hatred. The previously silenced ravings resurfaced in his ears, and a distant red sword appeared not far from him.

However, he refused to succumb to the same attack and rose from his throne.

Suddenly, he was startled to see a burly figure.

A divine woman in a long black gown appeared. Her face was draped in black gauze. She had a smile, which was visible through her gauze.

'Amanises...How?!..... Concealment!!" Solomon realised. However, his realisation came too late.

When his gaze fell on Amanises's smile, his face contorted in horror and fear. He appeared to have witnessed something beyond his comprehension or peered into the unknown itself.

Amanises' honorific name also includes the Empress of Horror!

Aucuses' ravings also increased at the same time.

Solomon's figure collapsed as an invisible storm of fear and ravings tore through his mind and wreaked havoc. His sanity was slowly eroding, pushing him over the edge.

Aucuses increased the force of his sword thrust after noticing this. He intended to kill Solomon with a single blow of his sword.

Solomon finally gave up stabilising his collapsing condition, as he saw the red sword right in front of his heart. His last sanity desperately sought use authority of "Disorder" one last time.

He did not distort "fear," "sound," "time," or "reality," as one might expect.

But it was something he had only recently discovered within himself.

Misfortune!

He was cursed with misfortune by Amanises during the battle, which he didn't realise until later due to her concealment and his poor mental state.

Then, he distorted the concept of "Misfortune" itself!

Solomon immediately felt the ravings and fear leave his mind, and his collapsing figure came to a halt. He regained complete lucidity.

He began to have illusions, that the entire world revolved around him, and that he was the centre of it all. He didn't get lost in this feeling, though; he knew it was due to the blessing of "Luck", which he had received through distorting misfortune. It also enabled to him to temporarily to get ride of his desperate situation.

Solomon saw the red sword approaching his chest and about to pierce his heart. He didn't hesitate to use all of his power at this time.

"Chaos!" He roared, and a divine aura erupted from him.

Crack!

The reality around his figure cracked and collapsed like shards of mirror.

Solomon used his authority of "Disorder" to destroy very "Order" of reality, causing everything to fall into chaos!

Before the sword could pierce him, the endless surging chaos consumed his figure and throne, completely covering everything like a cocoon.

Aucuses' eyes narrowed when he saw this. But, his sword still advanced, blazing towards the torrent of chaos.

Clang!

When it finally collided, a flash of orange and golden light erupted, lighting up most of the astral world within the barrier and even making the barrier visible.

A massive, indescribable face with bloody tentacles appeared to cling to the transparent barrier at that moment. This indescribable being's gaze was entirely fixed on the Aucuses.