Codex Null: Simulation Through Madness-Chapter 95: Wane Dimension

[One month later, with Liora, who was pretty nonchalant about the situation and actually helped with surprising cooperation, you were finally able to catch Maelis Merrow.]

This woman is really a bitch... Noel couldn’t help but think as he read about the behaviors of Liora, his disgust evident in the way his expression darkened.

And his low opinion of her became even lower.

Still, he was pretty satisfied by this outcome, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

[She was pretty resentful and wanted to be killed. But you didn’t allow her that mercy. Instead, you spent a huge amount of money to ask for the assistance of someone from the Order of Veil, to assist Lirien, in enslaving her.]

[Finally, you fulfilled your promise to yourself, putting a dog collar on Maelis and Liora with deliberate ceremony, telling them that their lives from now on were nothing but that of pets for you.]

[Three months passed. The shockwave of your actions, be it for killing those still weak but talented people or the complete annihilation of the Merrow family, gathered many dissatisfied voices in the Hidden Society.]

[But no one dared to make a move, with how you were already being infamous for how crazy you were. And there were still the Cross and Everen houses, and even the Hollow Sun cult behind you, forming something along the line of an alliance that few would dare to challenge.]

[All of that though was not on your mind. Instead, you were focused on the Control Law, as you were finally able to express it in the outside world. And instead of the first mastery stage, Trace, you had moved on to the second one, Initial Understanding.]

[Just then, as you were still absorbed in the moment where your efforts were finally being rewarded, Selena, Lilith, and Serah appeared before you. Their expressions were grave.]

[You seemed to understand what was going on. But you didn’t voice your thoughts and let them say it themselves.]

[They told you there would be a prompt gathering for all the major forces in the world, and whatever had happened, it was serious enough to unite even longtime enemies.]

[At such news, your eyes went to the silent Serah, as you asked her to say what she had to reveal.]

["So, you know after all," Serah said, as she chuckled dejectedly, then explained that it was just like you thought. It was about the dimension you had warned her about the last time.]

So it’s not about the Averna continent, but this dimension?

Noel raised his eyebrows at this thought, now wondering where this was all leading, his mind already racing through the implications of what this gathering might mean for his carefully laid plans.

[All eyes became focused on you at these words from Serah, but you didn’t bother explaining anything further. After all, you actually didn’t know anything more than you shared, instead you told them, "Let’s go," intending to go with them and find out exactly what was going on.]

[Officially showing yourself to the hidden society after 15 years, and coming along with three beautiful young women at your side and another three mature ones following behind, garnered you many attentions.]

[Words from jealous men like, "The Former Cross Heir is now living off women now," were not a few among the whispers.]

[But in the end, the cliche of someone obstructing or challenging you didn’t happen, and you simply moved on to the main gathering hall where the actual meeting would take place — one reserved for the heads of organizations, noble houses, and even the leaders of the four major factions.]

So I’m finally going there, but instead of being the head of the house, I’m accompanying one?

Noel clenched his hand, upon reading this kind of outcome.

[Inside a very grand hall, where an enormous table dominated the center with chairs arranged in precise formation around its perimeter, your group finally separated as each member moved to their designated position.]

[Serah moved forward and took her place standing behind an empty seat, Selena positioned herself behind her mother Clarissa, while you assumed your position behind Lilith.]

[Coincidentally, your seating arrangement made you stand beside Elsa, who was standing behind her father, but you simply nodded at her before you moved your gaze toward the entrance, where the four faction leaders were going to enter from.]

[The first to enter was a terrifying old man whose very presence seemed to radiate madness, his menacing aura filling the space around him like a suffocating fog.]

[The hall, which had maintained a respectful silence, transformed into something eerily quiet as the man — the leader of the Hollow Sun cult — was announced by his titles and name before taking his seat at the position Serah had been guarding.]

[You could immediately sense his intense scrutiny boring into you, as though you had stolen something infinitely precious from him. And so, rather than meeting his gaze directly, you moved your attention to the Witch Queen, a mature and strikingly voluptuous woman who entered after him.]

[Your eyes narrowed dangerously, and killing intent began brewing in their depths. However, when the Witch Queen noticed your hostile reaction and responded with nothing more than an amused smile, and understanding your current situation, you chose not to dwell on her presence.]

[Following her entrance came Edith. Your eyes met hers directly, and for a brief moment, you caught sight of growing interest flickering across her features. You simply nodded in acknowledgment without speaking, then turned your focus toward the final arrival.]

[The Star Guardian Leader — the one proclaimed as the strongest individual currently alive — entered with an aura that seemed utterly unfathomable.]

[He was someone you had once set your sights on surpassing before losing your memories. But knowing such a goal was now impossible for you, you didn’t allow yourself to dwell on him and instead directed your gaze forward, letting the upcoming meeting’s content occupy your thoughts entirely.]

Blinking his eyes, Noel for a moment doubted the text he read.

To him now, surpassing the Star Guardian leader was like an inevitability, so how had it suddenly become something impossible?

For a moment, Noel found himself pondering this contradiction before the realization struck him.

To his simulated self, such a feat truly was impossible, after all.

But even then, with his high self-estimate, did he really need to think like this?

Noel found that notion distasteful, after all.

[The meeting officially commenced once the Star Guardian arrived, though surprisingly, instead of him speaking first, the Hollow Sun Leader took the initiative.]

[He detailed their discovery of a corrupted dimension saturated with Darkness Law and something else entirely — an unknown force that appeared to erode whatever it contacted, emphasizing the catastrophic danger it represented.]

[Each of the four major factions made their input after that, and only then did the discussion open to the other organization leaders present.]

[The meeting continued for a considerable duration before concluding with a grim declaration: the Four major factions would unite their efforts for this crisis, and all other organizations were obligated to provide assistance.]

[Unlike everyone else who now wore expressions of grave concern, you remained completely nonchalant. You were preparing to depart when Elsa suddenly intercepted you.]

[Observing her troubled expression, you guided her to a more private location before finally prompting her to speak.]

["Would things have been different if I had accepted your offer back then?" She posed this question first, her tone bearing none of her usual proud confidence, and you remained silent.]

[She didn’t appear to expect a response from you, however. Instead of elaborating further, she threw herself at you and claimed your lips with desperate urgency.]

[She seemed to desperately want you, and while you didn’t like this kind of thing, in the end, you still spent one night with her before she went back without saying any more words to you.]

[Her need for you seemed overwhelming, and while you typically wouldn’t have been moved by this kind of behaviors, this time was different.]

What was different? Noel amused, wanted to to ask himself in the simulation.

That’s aside though, there’s really something going on with this woman!

Noel confirmed his thoughts after he read the sudden unexpected development of the events.

[You ultimately spent the night with her before she departed without another word.]

[You slightly pondered on her situation before you decided not to complicate it and simply returned to your residence.]

[There, you met Lirien and informed her that your instructions remained unchanged. She should double her efforts and utilize the entire Zero Division as she gathered intelligence.]

[Lirien didn’t question your orders and simply moved to continue her mission, while you returned to practicing the Blood Scripture with renewed focus.]

[24 years old, you had already finished refining your liver and progressed to working on your Kidneys.]

[Six months passed when you heard disturbing news. The dimension filled with Darkness Law and that unknown erosive force, now designated as the Wane Dimension, had finally begun expanding onto Earth itself.]

[Whether it was the four major factions or everyone else, all seemed helpless against its advance, unable to seal it or completely halt its relentless progression.]