Chapter 165 - Black Moon – 2 (1/2)

Black Moon – 2

Beyond the gate was the first floor of Black Palace’s District 7, which was more or less my hometown now. It was a famous dungeon (mainly because of me), but all humans who ran around here were already dead. The dungeon itself was oddly quiet as it was already under my control.

“Kiruk!

“Kiruk!”

As soon as any goblins found me, they ran away. There were many strangely strong monsters in the other zones that I challenged to test what I could do, but these monsters fled without hesitation. The same scene would likely play out on the next few floors, but I was focused on reaching the final boss room- what I sought waited for me there.

Or at least, I thought so. As soon as I arrived in front of the boss room on the first floor, the pocket watch I was holding flew out of my hand and was absorbed into the boss room door. At that moment, I could feel the boss beyond the door changing, transforming into a creepy thing similar to what I felt when I faced Lucifer.

“…” I felt a bit defeated. I thought I would be able to receive what I prepared in the past. But, upon reflection, this made sense. I knew better than anyone else that there was nothing to gain without suffering first. I was fine physically after my battle with Lucifer, but mentally I was fatigued. There was also the stress of the underground disappearing at any moment, which is why I had been hoping it would be easier. Pushing that thought aside, I let out a deep sigh and grabbed onto Annihilation.

“Ha!” The huge iron gate shattered apart under Annihilation’s power. Beyond the gate, the figure of a person awaited me.

It was me.

[It was at the same time I was making plans to create the Battlefield, I began to think…]

It had the exact same voice as me, the same face and body. He spoke in a calm but firm voice.

[Lucifer falls short of being my equal, my partner. The Battlefield was the best plan I could achieve, but it was bound to fail.]

“…” Certainly, it did fail. Half of this mess stemmed from that fact, but it wasn’t just Lucifer that was at fault.

[Because there was only one with the ability to do it, I was forced to entrust them, but I had to prepare for my next work when that one failed.]

This other me was like a broken robot, programmed to spit out everything contained inside of him and built to look just like me, aside from the black clothes he wore.

[If it is a plan that is obviously going to fail, you have to do it. But I wasn’t sure if I could break the heavens. It wasn’t enough to eat Lucifer. If only I had one more…I thought.]

Gradually, I began to see what I thought of in the past.

[After that, I started to see what I could use the Battlefield for. Prepare it so I could eat Lucifer while readying myself to grow back from the ground up. Those were the two purposes of the Battlefield.]

If that were the goal, I’d been greatly successful so far.

[I took the time I was allowed to take and contained the most intense Greed and Gluttony I had in it, sealing it in a pocket watch with seven chains. Of course, it’s not something that anyone can do, but the powers of Gluttony and Greed with the chain made it possible.]

I had a feeling this wouldn’t end peacefully.

[If I had to entrust the underground to someone, it had to be me. I had a strong desire to live, and I won’t die until I devour everything. That’s why I believed I could do it.]

“Wouldn’t it be nice to be devoured by me?”

[With all that has happened, I will go out to meet the heavens as the lord of Gluttony. I have gained strength to surpass my prior self, so I will only continue to grow stronger. Either way, no matter who gets eaten, the distinction is meaningless.]

His words flowed like water, filling me with suspicion.

[It can’t be. No matter how much time passes, there is no way I will lose to anyone other than myself.]