Chapter 237: Breaking Down

DISCLAIMER: This story is NOT MINE IN ANY WAY. That honor has gone to the attractive bastard Ryuugi. This has been pulled from his Spacebattles publishment at threads/rwby-the-gamer-the-games-we-play-disk-five.341621/. Anyway on with the present…err learn.

Breaking Down

In the middle of planning for my fights with Malkuth, I would thought-about each choice I had obtainable earlier than boiling issues right down to just some. The straightforward reality of the matter was that almost all of my abilities would not actually work towards somebody whose energy gave him such full management of the world round himeven restricted by Gilgamesh’s physique and unable to instantly management the world past himself, Malkuth had confirmed that. I entice him with within the warmth of a superbly contained stellar explosions? He makes it in order that warmth does not move from a warmer space to a colder one. I destroy his physique fully? He recreates it with summoned matter. I may hit him as onerous as I may, however he had countermeasures for almost all the pieces I may do, as much as and together with altering fundamental components of actuality just like the velocity of sunshine in a vacuum.

And that was all in direct stuffessentially weapons he’d cobbled collectively by altering his bodily mass and the way components of him interacted with the world. From eradicating issues means to carry itself collectively, inflicting it to implode and fuse right into a confined mass, or twisting likelihood into and precise bodily issues, the world was his bitch even whereas he was kneecapped by way of energy and flexibility. How the hell was I alleged to beat a man with supply code hacks to the universe I lived in?

There weren’t a variety of solutions. Even with all the ability I had and all the pieces I may muster, we existed within the realm of Malkuthhis world. His playground, actually. Nevertheless many instances I punched him within the face or destroyed his physique or no matter else I occurred to attempt, the very fact remained that the sport was rigged, the principles rewritten to make sure I could not win.

And but, I had, in my previous life. Not fully, after all, as a result of no matter had occurred, I hadn’t walked away from itbut on the identical time, Malkuth normally wasn’t operating round being a colossal douchebag and making my life a dwelling hell. I would stopped one way or the other, regardless that essentially the most fundamental legal guidelines of physics have been playthings in his palms. How?

I had no thought. I used to be keen to guess that was a giant a part of why Loss of life had made certain to present me a very good scrubbing, although the thousand years of expertise and preparation in all probability hadn’t helped my metaphorical case. And no matter I would performed, I used to be about one million % certain Malkuth had devoted a reasonably good portion of his time since making certain it would not work on him once more, or else he would not be so assured.

However, for all of that, for all his energy, and for all his minionsincluding the Riders, who may theoretically infect and pull nearly anybody to his sidehe wasn’t free to behave. Not until I did one thing to tamper with the connection that led again to him.

There have been only some doable explanations for that, the most probably of which was that I would trapped him one way or the other. The one purpose he’d be watching from a distance as an alternative of continually following me round, micromanaging and robust arming me at each second, was as a result of he had no different selection. If he did, he’d have reached out to me the second he knew who I used to be, again earlier than even I did, and might need offered a pleasant face till he bought what he’d wished. Assuming he did not do this, he’d a minimum of be continuously threatening and hurting issues I cared about, driving me whichever manner he selected. However both manner, he’d have performed one thing and I would have had no selection within the matter; I would by no means have a second’s peace, a second’s escape, as a result of he may even enter limitations like Naraka.

However as an alternative, he’d been pressured to work by means of clumsier means, utilizing the instruments he hadthe Grimmeven although I would identified they have been monsters from the get-go. He’d been pressured to maintain his distance, to observe and wait and nudge right here and there. To carry factor again and play issues secure. Not the actions of somebody who had a lot selection within the matter.

No, if he may have been there, he would have been thereand since he hadn’t, it was solely as a result of he could not. One thing was stopping him from getting concerned instantly.

It might need been on my endsomething I would performed to myself to guard towards his involvementbut that was unlikely. If I had some secret weapon that might ward him off up my sleeve, I in all probability would have used it the primary time round. Whereas some type of non secular bomb in my head that was able to explode if Malkuth got here too shut may hold him away, the danger to me was apparent and if one thing went wrongwell, I used to be fucked. I did not wish to screw myself over and I would been planning for a reincarnation, even understanding how lengthy it will take; been planning on doing one thing save the world in spherical two, regardless that I knew it meant numerous individuals may die earlier than I may get again within the ring. I would not have performed that if I had some other selection and I certain as hell would not threat making individuals endure much more by inflicting there to be a spherical three. There is perhaps, if I fucked up, however I used to be actually hoping to keep away from that.

Apart from, if I would left Malkuth free to run round, he’d have fucked up all the pieces by now. My life, the geography, the world, all the pieces. I would have heard of some nightmarish god-king by now, on the very least, or he’d have despatched different minions, controlling issues from a distance. No, no matter I would performed, it had nearly actually been on his finish. I would caught him in a entice of some form.

It could not have been a bodily prisonor, a minimum of, I could not consider one which I assumed may maintain him for very lengthy. Given the quantity of fucks he apparently gave forpretty a lot something, stone partitions and iron bars appeared unlikely to be his weak point. On this world, Malkuth’s energy was absolute and even when I used to be far stronger then than I used to be now, I used to be fairly certain I would have a bitch of a time bodily locking up a man who managed the legal guidelines of physics. Something grounded on this world was putty in Malkuth’s palms.

So I will need to have used one thing he could not management, which may solely imply one factor. The place I would failed with Et in Arcadia Egomy try and take away the battle from ‘actuality’I would found out some solution to succeed and I would locked him in a field he could not contact together with his powers. I would imprisoned him in a spot above Malkuth, above the bodily. A spot the place his strategies did not apply, the place the very ideas of combating, resisting, and clashing, as we understood them right here, have been meaningless. What was a battle in a world the place area, time, and distance held no worth? He would not be capable of escape from such a factor whereas inside it. He may not even be capable of attempt to escape the field I would put him in.

Effectively, if it labored in any respect how I assumed it mightand I may barely think about the mechanics of such a thingit was in all probability extra of a hypercube than a field, as such. However nonetheless. He was reduce off from the bodily and unable to even attain out in the direction of it until one thing reached out first. Except one thing from the bodily world interacted with him, permitting him an opportunity to have an effect on one thing together with his personal energy, to some extent or one other. The metaphysical distance in all probability imposed restrictions upon that past the plain ones, but it surely turned the unimaginable into the doable. The Sephirot have been linked, in any case, if in unusual methods.

And the issue was, there have been issues doing that on a regular basis. The Grimm have been linked to their grasp in a manner not dissimilar to my Elementals and Iseparate and united, the ‘individuals’ and the Kingdom. They drew energy from him, energy, and he remained linked to the world because of this. And after I reached out to tamper with that connection, like I would performed with each Conquest and Gilgameshit gave him a manner in, nonetheless quickly. He nonetheless had energy right here, in any case, he simply wanted to have the ability to attain it.

However it was a reminder that there have been some issues that might work on him, some issues that might nonetheless attain him. It had been a place to begin, as soon as I would considered issues that manner, a spot to beginand one of many locations it had led me was right here.

Ohr Ein Sof was extra than simply an assault in a case like thisit was a bridging of factors.

And I used it to tug Malkuth kicking and screaming up the Tree of Life.

Within the gentle of Ohr Ein Sof, all issues got here aside, no matter their nature. That was as a result of, at its most elementary stage, it wasn’t a harmful techniqueinstead, it revealed the reality and generally that fact wasn’t one thing individuals may survive studying. In Ohr Ein Sof, within the realms above, all the pieces really feel away. There was no flesh to hide you, no materials issues to distract you, no pure legislation or permanence or the rest. There was no time, no area, no distance. You could not lie in that gentle, not even to your self; could not cover or deny or deceive.

What you noticed was you. Who you actually have been, what you actually have been, behind all the pieces. As you rose by means of the Tree of Life, issues simplified on a stage that might bethat wasfrightening. Even only a step above Malkuth was Yesthe Basis, the connection between one factor and one other, between an thought and an act. Picture what that was like for an individual, being lowered to the foundations of who you have been, someplace between the ideas above and the realities under. And you then proceed to rise greater, seemingly shedding increasingly of who and what you have been, lowered to what most individuals would consider as a soul as early as Netzach and Hod, a minimum of have been the Aura was involved. Above that, one may argue if you happen to existed as a being in your personal proper, as one thing distinct and separate from all the pieces else.

That was the way you survived Ohr Ein Sof and it was far harder than it appeared. The query was, when there was nothing left however youwas that sufficient? The phrases ‘I Am’ have been easy and simply spoken when you might assume and speak, when the vibrations of air may generate sound and electrical impulses assist kind aware concepts, when boundaries have been made actual in Malkuth, however what separates one entity from one other above that? The thoughts? Maybe that might maintain you for a time, however what about while you attain above the thoughts within the heights of the Sephirot? What of while you transcend them solely within the Mild? The Mild was one thing that was, maybe, infinite and all-encompassing. It existed in all issues, in all states of issues, divided and separated by the emanations of the Sephirot. In the event you take away all these, what separated one factor from one other?

You. You didand completely nothing else. Not your physique, not your thoughts, not your reminiscences or emotions or feelings, not your hopes or your desires or needs, however simply you. Who you have been when, paradoxically, all the pieces you have been was gone.

However that perspective was, in and of itself, restricted. Keter was ‘that which laid above the thoughts’ and issues that existed throughout the state of Keter and even above itneedless to say, they have been onerous to conceptualize. In that state, we have been much less individuals than concepts, besides even that gave an excessive amount of weight to us. We have been the moments earlier than an thought, the moment earlier than one thing clicked and seemingly meaningless and unconnected ideas got here collectively into one thing grand. The second of inspiration, the second of conceptualization, the primary moments of existence. If the world had sprung forth with a bang, Keter was the silence that preceded it. One thing unimaginable to actually nail down however undeniably existent; the start. Not the place one thing was perceived as starting, like the primary phrase on a web page and even the primary thought of the story, however what got here earlier than that.

And as an alternative of an thought, it was an individual. Although calling it a thought and an individual might not have been incorrect, on this stage.

This was the jail I would sentenced Malkuth tothe jail of Being and Nearly Being, to the moments you lived earlier than you have been. The place there was nothing however who you have been about to be, besides maybe one different factor. The ‘soul’, past all labels or expectations.

And this was the state I would introduced us to now.

Every little thing we have been on the floor fell away, our bodily types dissolved and what remainedwho we actually have been when all else was stripped awayflowed up the channels of the Sephirot. I felt it as we rose, every stage stripping away extra of who we have been, peeling again the lies that hid the reality. Although the assault might have struck Gilgamesh, that physique was nothing however Malkuth’s puppet now, and it did nothing to cover him. Ohr Ein Sof peeled away the flesh and bared the soul, tracing the connection again to its supply. For a second, I may sense him in a manner that was onerous to explain, as a result of ‘sense’ implied statement, the power to differentiate the world exterior from your self, or a minimum of distinguish totally different components of your self. I could not do this right here, as a result of most of it simply did not apply. I could not assume and so I could not kind ideas into concepts and phrases.

However I used to be. And I knew I used to be. After alland particularly nowI was Metatron. I used to be Keter, the Crown and that which stays. And right here, I had the benefit.

In some ways, this was nothing however a change in our battlefieldan exceedingly literal escalation. Simply as Malkuth warped the legal guidelines of physics to form the phrases of our battle, I would now eliminated us from these legal guidelines solely to show issues to my benefit. Our energy and management of the world did not matter right here, solely we did, who we have been. We did not pit these issues towards one another, did not come into battle, as a result of the mere thought of a battle on this stage was laughable. Even pondering imply ideas in one another’s basic instructions was unimaginable, as a result of we had no location, route, or ideas to do such issues with.

As an alternative, we fought by present. By persevering with to exist, above and past the grasp of all the pieces that implied we may or ought to exist. What may you maintain onto while you had and have been nothing and what would you let slip by means of your grasp? I had the benefit, by my very naturemy energy, my Semblance, all of them drew from this. In some ways, the Gamer’s Physique and Thoughts have been tied again to this state and thus all of my energy. Greater than that, I had Metatron on my aspect, each the ability and the title. I knew who I used to be.

Malkuth, I assumed, simply had a variety of expertise from being locked up right here all this time. However even then, that wasn’t solely a bonus, as a result of it was that a lot tougher to cling to bodily issues and that was a significant hazard in Ohr Ein Sof. Maybe you managed to cling to your mindbut do you continue to have a physique to connect it to? What in case your physique stays, however not your self? What if nothing stays? I had an analogous challenge as a result of, if something, this was my pure state, however I used to be higher geared up to take care of it. And whereas in some ways, Malkuth felt as stable because the world itself and as regular because it’s turnings, I may really feel issues on the sides starting to fray.

“However it made me surprise why. At first, I assumed you is perhaps hiding your identification, however I could not determine why you’d even hassle. Would I acknowledge you, put the items collectively if I noticed your face? I wasn’t certain and I did not have any manner of understanding the reality on the time regardless. Later, it simply did not appear necessary so I brushed it off as you being an asshole and left it at that. However even while you possessed Gilgamesh, after I had many of the items and also you knew it, you did not change form. Why is that? Why would you even hassle hiding your face after I already understand it?”

At that, Malkuth was silent, however I may all however really feel his glower.

It made me smile.

“However that is not it, is it?” I requested, voice taunting. “You are not attempting to cover anythingyou simply do not bear in mind anymore, do you?”

His kind fluctuated violently, as if he have been about to shift, to show me improper simply to spite mebut he hesitated on the final second, as if afraid he’d simply show my level. In doing so, he did anyway, and I laughed at him.

“It is bizarre, the issues my energy pulls up generally,” I mentioned. “One among my titles referred to the Grimm as ‘creatures of anonymity.’ I did not assume a lot of it, as a result of heythey all the place masks. They do not have souls, both, issues past the bodily to set them aside. However what if there’s extra to it than that? Trapped above the world within the realms past the physicalit will be so onerous to carry on to the little issues, to maintain them from slipping by means of the cracks. Lower off from the world, tied solely to the Grimm and even then solely evenly, it will need to have been tough. However it’s a bit of humorous, is not it? How even after all the pieces you took from me, I nonetheless bear in mind who I amand you do not? Id and Anonymity. Odd how issues come collectively generally, is not it?”

I tilted my head, nonetheless smiling at him broadly.

“I bear in mind what you regarded like, you understand,” I mentioned, simply to be a dick. “And belief meyou’re not lacking something.”

“When you have some extent, get to it,” He mentioned, his voicedevoid now of something like an accent, something uniquea growl.

“I ponder if I deliberate this,” I mused. “I imply, hell, perhaps if you happen to keep right here lengthy sufficient, you will lose the components of you that make you a fucking prick. Although if just a few thousand years did not do it, I suppose it is in all probability impossibleI suppose it is simply a part of what makes you you.”

“I am going to kill them,” He mentioned, his voice nearly frighteningly empty. It wasn’t offended, wasn’t loudit was comfortable, distant, and completely devoid of something human. “I am going to kill your mom. I am going to kill your sisters and daughter and mates. I am going to have my Grimm do it slowly, let my Riders have their enjoyable. They’re going to take pleasure in that in any case this time, you will not. And I am going to make you watch. You are robust sufficient to kill Gilgamesh, however I’ve mightier kids and there are such a lot of. You may fall, you will fail, and I am going to make you see what it means.”

I let all traces of amusement slip from my face, mentioning solely the ability operating by means of me.

“And the way a lot will you lose within the course of?” I requested. “How lengthy will it take for me to be reborn? A thousand years? 5? Ten? The truth that you have managed to carry onto your self this lengthy is miraculousbut you have misplaced issues. You may lose extra. Can you actually afford to attend? In the event you mobilize your forces to kill the individuals I like, what’s to cease me from hanging you out to dry? To say fuck it and simply take as many Grimm as doable down with me? You possibly can’t torture me. You possibly can beat me, however you do not have the ability to strong-arm me anymore.”

I will need to have performed this deliberately as welldone one thing to maintain him from simply wiping me out if I bought to harmful. For a very long time, I assumed I used to be the one one with time towards them, however Malkuth had simply as a lot to lose from too lengthy a wait. If I misplaced and died, numerous individuals would endure and die earlier than I had one other chancebut Malkuth’s identification would proceed to erode. Slowly, provided that he apparently had sufficient self-control to carry on this lengthy, however what was it prefer to dwell like that? Lower off from all the pieces, understanding every day may take a few of your thoughts away from you?

Loss of life had stripped me of my previous life rapidly, however I wasn’t so form.

“What would you plan, then?” He requested finally.

“A ceasefire,” I mentioned. “For a time. You’ve gotten issues in movement and so do Ilet’s permit issues to play out only a bit extra earlier than we drive one another’s palms.”

He hummed for a second, as if in consideration.

“Let me see,” He mentioned. “So I offer you, a man who grows at an exponential fee, a major period of time to proceed to develop. I go away you to run round and kill my dudes, rising in energy and flexibility all whereas crippling my very own means to threaten you. And in return, I keep locked up in right here? Not the most effective gross sales pitch, I need to say.”

“That is not what I meant by a ceasefire,” I replied. “You do not assault the Kingdoms, I do not assault the Grimm. Not in any main manner, at leastyou will not cease killing individuals and I will not cease killing monsters on the small scale, however I will not kill your Knights but and you will not wipe all the pieces out.”

“So you utilize Naraka as an alternative?” He requested. “I can really feel the Grimm inside it, you knowdon’t assume I am unable to. We might have made that method collectively, however they’re nonetheless mine.”

I filed that bit of knowledge away and nodded slowly.

“Not even them, then,” I mentioned. “No loopholes, no trickswe each simply maintain again for some time.”

It wasn’t an enormous loss, all toldthe quantity of expertise I bought from most Grim was negligible at this level and whereas searching the Knights would yield what I assumed have been huge portions of expertise, it appeared as if it will imply combating Malkuth every time. It was nonetheless a loss as a result of the factors I gained from leveling have been my easiest method to enhance my stats, butI had already reached the restrict of Intelligence and Knowledge and I had different methods of enhancing my bodily stats now.

Apart from which, my true energy had at all times been in my abilities. I had a greater really feel for what I used to be up towards, I simply wanted extra time to study and enhance now. It wasn’t as if I had a lot selection, anyway; it was this or throwing down now.

Malkuth was watching me, frowningbut I may see him contemplating it. Regardless of his threats, I had a sense neither of us was in very best situation for an actual battle. I would taken him abruptly with Metatron, the Crimson Rider was out of fee, Cinder was in the midst of doing no matter she was planning, and DeathI nonetheless wanted to make sure of the place he was. Conquest and the Knights have been nonetheless mendacity in wait as effectively.

Beneath all of that, nonetheless, I knew what actually involved himwaiting for some time or ready for 1000’s of years.

“How lengthy would such a factor final?” He requested.

“Understanding you? Not lengthy,” I answered. “However you may assault any time you want. You possibly can kick issues off any time you want and I am unable to cease youI simply will not launch you until I believe I’ve an opportunity of profitable. Till then, the 2 of us simply should rig issues as closely in our favor as doable.”

“And what assure do I’ve that you’d ever let me out?” He requested.

“Neither of us have any ensures,” I informed him. “However I wish to kill you and also you wish to kill me. You already talked about why I have to do the previous; if you wish to do the latter, you are simply doing to should play the sport and time issues proper, identical as me. We’ll each be taking a threat, each be attempting to win, and each doing all the pieces in our energy to verify we doand one improper transfer would screw us each over.”

He watched me silently and did not reply.

“Now I name that truthful,” I mentioned, emphasizing the phrase gently earlier than clicking my tongue and smiling barely, at the same time as I crossed my fingers on the within. “Or shut sufficient.”