<We want the complete annihilation of Breaking Chasm #52.>

Skullius furrowed his brows again.

A tall task indeed.

At once, he recalled what Future Skullius had said – the reason why COLMUUN had allowed these three Primeval Deities to reach him.

I can only do two favors for you. Nothing more. And these favors can’t have anything to do with fighting Fulgardt or Somanda, the Future Hybrid had stressed.

(A/N: Refer to Ch.1449.)

Back then, Skullius had already reasoned that Future Skullius’ limits with what he could help with on Aigas were due to some restriction formed because of his Contract with COLMUUN.

...But in the end, Future Skullius had ended up intervening with more than even Skullius expected, despite what he said. He had shown up on the battlefield and stalled Fulgardt, even if he didn’t actively fight the Immoral. That must have been why... right?

(A/N: Refer to Ch.1550.)

’That must be the price I’m paying for right now with this ridiculous task.’

Breaking Chasms...

They were bigger and more complex than worlds, as far as Skullius knew (because of Boron’s memories). Both the Primeval Deities and the Aspire to Divine had a vested interest in them. If he was being tasked with destroying one...

’It’s probably occupied by their enemies. The Aspire to Divine must have a base there.’

<Well?> said SVEERCUSK, his voice slick with impatience.

Skullius sighed.

"Why do you want it destroyed?"

<Suffice it to say, it serves our interests.> said DRADPAS.

"That won’t suffice at all. If there’s immense danger attached to this task, I think it’s only courteous that you tell me exactly what that danger entails. If it were a simple task, you would have done it on your own, right? You’re not restricted from getting your own hands dirty, like the Existential Parallels."

<True. Lethality is involved.> said ABBON-RIGGIE. <Our enemies have grown over the Consternals. They evolved through their own strength... and by stealing some of our secrets. Some of them are even close to reaching Primeval status. Fulgardt’s little stunt added to that. We aren’t as untouchable as we once were. We’d rather avoid risks.>

"And delegate them to your lessers as part of a faulty collusion?" Skullius was seething, but he exhaled his fury.

<Don’t think of it that way.> said ABBON-RIGGIE almost apologetically. <Every additional piece of information we give kills the whole point of equivalent exchange. The risks are what make trade valuable. If this task were as easy as buttering bread, how would it possibly be worth as much as Kenno’s life?>

<We saw what you’re capable of at your strongest.> One of the incomprehensible beings surged towards Skullius. He imagined it was SVEERCUSK. <Destroying a Breaking Chasm would be a simple matter for you were there no enemies inhabiting it. I didn’t think you’d whine when the slightest element of resistance was introduced to the picture. Will you do it or not? This amicable relationship can easily devolve into a hostile one if you so wish.>

A threat.

Skullius was unshaken. He turned to the other figures behind SVEERCUSK. He’d hoped for them to push back, to correct SVEERCUSK’s wording and reassure him that in the end, they truly meant to have a good relationship with him.

But they said nothing.

’Naturally,’ Skullius thought and rebuked himself for even entertaining the idea that the Primevals would consider treating him with respect at all. ’It’s all a game – a string of truths and lies mangled into a manipulative performance.’

Indeed, to the Primevals it might as well have been a game, a performance.

’Something significant is going down in Breaking Chasm #59, but they don’t want me to go in with full knowledge about what it is. Their objective might not necessarily be to see that Breaking Chasm destroyed at all,’ he thought deeply, accelerating his mind with Litte. Then...

’...Ah. I see. They probably don’t know the specifics either, and that’s where I come in.’

From Boron’s memories, Skullius could confirm that, truly, the Aspire to Divine had grown as an organization in part because some of the secrets of the Primeval Deities had been leaked.

Their enemies were capable of pushing back.

"I commend your way with words. It’s almost reassuring," said Skullius. "I wouldn’t shy away from a challenge. I’m actually intrigued by this. It would be an experience – touring a Breaking Chasm for the first time. The grandeur of it is probably better appreciated when you’re actually there."

He wasn’t lying.

Boron’s memories could only do so much. He’d only ever been to one Breaking Chasm the entire time he served the Aspire to Divine. Breaking Chasms were hard to find, after all. Unlike Prime worlds, you couldn’t see them as bright spots in the great void. On top of that, they were constantly moving, following an orbit that was treacherously difficult to predict.

<Your answer?> ABBON-RIGGIE urged.

Skullius tensed, ready to fight should his response lead to that conclusion.

The Warmoth’s will was still flaring, and Susu`k was waiting patiently for a signal to erupt into action should Skullius give it.

"Regrettably, I can’t quite meet your demand, but not for a lack of want," said the Hybrid Warmoth. "You’re probably already aware, but I don’t have that much time on my hands. Even my own efforts have only bought me enough time for a little exploration before I have to finish my business with a certain Lich."

This too was not a lie, but Skullius figured it was a convincing argument.

"I’d be open to something equally as challenging, but not time-consuming."

By saying this, Skullius intended to make the Primeval Deities aware that he was onto them. They likely wanted him as a spy in order to know exactly what was going on in Breaking Chasm #59.

After they understood everything, they would probably be the ones to destroy it... and Skullius himself.

’Crafty.’

But now, Skullius wondered how the Primeval Deities would react to him refusing their offer.

<Time?> said ABBON-RIGGIE, chuckling.

<That little thing tormenting your mind?> A figure Skullius judged to be DRADPAS strode close to him. <Why, if that’s all that’s keeping you from the task, then...>

With what must have been the Primeval Deity’s fingers, constantly echoing possibilities of themselves as ghosts, DRADPAS pulled something from thin air, from the densest point in three dimensions.

...!

Skullius felt a tug from somewhere deep within him, his soul, and then, it appeared.

It was something akin to a thin thread, wreathed in Undeath energy flaring in a rich red hue. The length of it ran along the air until it reached the point between DRADPAS’ fingers.

Almost immediately, a vibrant flush of green layered over the thread, dwarfing the red.

’Conste!’ Skullius thought at once. ’Doom Factor 2 is...!’

<Surely, now you don’t have any excuses, right?> said SVEERCUSK.