Power of Runes-Chapter 381: The Will of Three Eternals (2)

"During the years I was sealed, I planned many things and thought about many possibilities, and I believe this proposal of mine can work better for all of us. Do you want to hear it?"

The Transcendent Eternal Supreme and the Heavenly Eternal Supreme were both shocked, but they managed to hide it without showing any clear reaction. Their presence remained calm and steady, yet their silence carried a faint trace of disbelief that neither of them allowed to surface.

According to their memories, the Abyssal One was never someone who gave proposals. He had always been straightforward, spreading destruction without hesitation and crushing everything that stood in his way to achieve his goals. He firmly believed in power as supreme, never trusting negotiation or compromise, and rarely showing interest in discussions that required patience.

Thus, they hesitated slightly. Somehow the proposal felt like an insidious whisper, like a carefully laid trap inviting them to step into it willingly, while pretending to offer a solution that benefited all sides. Even so, refusing to listen could lead to an even worse outcome, something both of them clearly understood.

Still, they both gave their agreement to at least hear him. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

After all, the Abyssal One choosing not to fight was something even they would prefer, as open conflict between them would shake the very structure of existence and leave scars across realms that might never heal completely.

With a raspy chuckle and a voice layered by millions of overlapping whispers, the Abyssal One continued, his tone unusually composed, as if he had repeated these thoughts countless times during his imprisonment.

"As you both know, the Abyssal Realm and the Heavenly Realm were different. What I mean is that the Abyssal Realm and Heavenly Realm right now are vast flat lands with sky and ecosystems that sustain their respective realms. The flat surface stretches across millions of lightyears of distance, giving the illusion of being eternal and without end, making it seem as if those lands have always existed in that form."

"But they are not truly eternal. I will not go too deeply into the history of why and how this transformation happened, as both of you are already aware of it. You also know that before the Abyssal and Heavenly Realms became flat lands, they existed in a structure similar to the current Mortal Realm."

"With outer space, planets, millions of races, diverse ecosystems, galaxies, and countless civilizations that thrived across expanding cosmic systems. But due to certain events and decisions that shaped the balance of existence, both realms were reshaped into the flat lands that they are today, losing the vast cosmic structure they once possessed."

"And after our realms became flat lands, it was around that time that the Gates leading to this Mortal Realm were opened, creating a fragile but necessary connection between the realms, allowing influence and interaction to continue in a controlled manner."

Although none of the Eternal Supremes were physically present, the change in the atmosphere within the sealed barrier made it clear that the discussion had reached a serious stage. The air inside the barrier felt heavier, and the suppressed energy surrounding the battlefield vibrated faintly, as if reacting to the weight of history and consequences being spoken aloud.

The Heavenly Eternal Supreme interjected at that moment, his voice calm yet carrying slight impatience, as if he wished to move beyond details that he already knew and reach the true purpose behind the discussion.

"We already know all these things. You can move forward. Do not waste too much time."

"Fine."

A disgruntled voice replied, carrying faint irritation .The Abyssal One then continued, deliberately ignoring the Heavenly One’s interruption.

"We came to learn many secrets of this Realm and even of our own realms. But the main point of my proposal is to transform the Mortal Realm into the same flat lands as those of the Abyssal and Heavenly Realms."

Silence.

It felt as if the very concept of sound had vanished entirely, and the silence that followed carried a suffocating weight, pressing against the sealed barrier as though existence itself had paused to comprehend the magnitude of what had just been said.

Neither of the two spoke. Millions of possibilities, calculations, and consequences rushed through their minds, clashing and intertwining as they tried to grasp the full implication of the proposal.

Finally, the Heavenly One raised a question, his voice measured and steady, yet carrying a hidden sharpness that reflected his suspicion.

"And how will that benefit you or even any of us?"

Although both of them had already begun forming their own conclusions, they wanted the Abyssal One to complete his explanation first, knowing that interrupting him prematurely could lead to missing critical details that might shape their decision.

With a low chuckle that echoed like overlapping whispers scraping against each other, he replied, his tone calm yet disturbingly confident.

"Firstly, we all know that these realms, whether the Mortal, Heaven, or Abyss, were not originally suited to give birth to an Eternal Supreme. Only after our realms became the current flat lands did the governing laws strengthen to a level where the existence of Eternals became possible. The transformation reshaped the stability of reality itself, allowing beings like us to exist without instantly tearing apart the balance of the realm."

"Our Transcendent One here is different from us, as he carved his own path and transcended everything to achieve the power of an Eternal even while weaker laws governed this place. But nothing is without consequences. Although he gained immense power through his own will and understanding, he cannot use too much of it without risking the destruction of everything around him. That is precisely why you sealed yourself in a location where no one can find you and where your presence alone will not collapse existence. Am I wrong?"

The Transcendent One remained silent. His silence did not feel like denial, and the stillness of his presence carried the weight of acknowledgment that required no words. Even the faint fluctuations of energy around the sealed space subtly confirmed the truth behind the Abyssal One’s statement.

"So, by making the Mortal Realm the same as the flat ones, the governing laws will strengthen, and even we can exist here freely without the constant fear of destroying everything simply by just existing."

It was at that moment that the Transcendent One spoke, his voice cold and resolute.

"I refuse this proposal. You only want to descend here, cause havoc, and kill everyone. I cannot agree to it, because your nature has never shown restraint when destruction stands before you."

The Abyssal One chuckled again, the unsettling sound spreading through the sealed barrier like ripples of dark water, layered with amusement and faint mockery.

"Kiikikikii, if I wanted to destroy things, I could descend even now while the laws are weaker. Doing so would result in everything being destroyed without resistance. If destruction was my only goal, why would I want the laws to become stronger and limit the scale of my chaos?"

Hearing his counter, neither of them responded immediately. His reasoning, while twisted by his nature, carried a disturbing logic that could not be easily dismissed. The weight of his words lingered in the air, forcing both Supremes to consider the deeper layers hidden beneath his intent.

"Hear everything I have to say before rushing to reject me," he continued, his voice lowering slightly.

"I already stated what the first benefit will be. Secondly, we can create an opportunity for the people of the mortal realms to overcome their racial limits and become powerful."

Saying so, he continued to fill in the details of how it was going to be accomplished, carefully laying out the structure of his plan step by step so that no part of it would appear vague or unstable.

The Abyssal One knew that if he wanted the other two to agree to his proposal, he had to present a greater benefit that could appeal to both of them and make the plan appear balanced rather than purely self serving.

And it was certainly more effective against the Transcendent One. Since he was naturally protective of the mortal realm, presenting this as an opportunity for growth and evolution was like offering bait that aligned with his values, subtly pulling him onto the same boat without forcing him directly.

"So what do you think about this? Isn’t it acceptable?" the Abyssal One asked, his layered voice carrying a confident calmness, as though he was certain his reasoning would be difficult to refute.

"It is, but..."

"Before you continue, hear the last but not the least benefit of this. By using the second benefit’s arrangements, we can identify the Runes and even speed up their collection."

This time, both of them stopped speaking as their thoughts raced without pause, running simulations in their mind. The mention of Runes alone was enough to make the weight of the conversation increase, as their importance was something none of them could ignore.

After carefully analyzing his words and finding no direct flaw in his explanation, they both felt an unspoken temptation to agree.

Yet neither of them could accept the proposal without understanding what the Abyss would truly gain from this arrangement, because nothing involving him had ever come without a hidden cost.

Thus, they asked him directly.

"What will I gain? What a question," the Abyssal One replied with a distorted laugh that carried clear excitement beneath its rough texture.

"Of course, I will get to kill both of you. I will send armies to destroy everyone and everything. The new flat lands will become the Second Immortal Battlefield. We as Eternal Supremes still cannot fight directly, otherwise the realm will be destroyed, and with that, we will be destroyed as well. After all, we are caged, are we not?"

If not for the fact that the destruction of the realm would result in his own death, the Abyssal One would have already fought the other two Eternals with the sole intention of tearing apart the entire realm. His nature had never allowed him to suppress his destructive urges easily, and only the absolute risk to his own existence forced him to seek alternatives.

But did that not sound like a contradiction? Earlier he had spoken about destroying the realm to escape it, yet now he appeared unwilling to allow its complete destruction.

The destruction caused by a direct battle between Eternal Supremes would erase everything without distinction, leaving nothing behind. The flat lands of the realms only allows them to exist without destroy everything. But if one started using their powers, it will definitely cause massive damage to the Realm.

However, what the Abyssal One truly desired was not the annihilation of Realm itself, but the destruction of the boundaries of the realm just enough for him to pass through them and reach the Greater Cosmos beyond.

Yet that act itself was nearly impossible, because even an Eternal Supreme could not directly destroy the boundary of a realm.

And even if by some chance he succeeded, there were countless consequences that could arise, that touched some secrets that even they did not want to address. Because it will gain unwanted attention.

"Instead, we will use our armies to fight each other. The one who wins will not interfere in the path of the other. If I win, you cannot stop me and will only watch from the sidelines, no matter what I do. The same condition will apply if either of you wins," he continued, his tone turning slightly heavier as he revealed the core of his intention.

"We will sign an Eternal Oath using our powers, ensuring that none of us can go back on our words or break the agreement without facing consequences that even we cannot escape. This is my aim."

There was silence in the place, yet it was evident that the Abyssal One held even deeper intentions that he chose not to reveal. At the same time, the other two were no different, as both of them were carefully concealing their own thoughts and calculations behind their calm and unreadable presence.

The idea itself was quite novel, and neither of them could immediately find anything fundamentally wrong with it. With so many apparent benefits laid out clearly, there was even a possibility that the arrangement could backfire on the Abyssal One if events unfolded differently from his expectations.

Still, they both understood that such confidence could never exist without a hidden strategy supporting it, and that realization kept them cautious throughout the discussion.

Yet in the end, the benefits gradually began to outweigh the possible consequences.

Each of them silently acknowledged that refusing the proposal might lead to a far more unpredictable future, one where the Abyssal One could attempt something far more destructive without any structured restraint.

Thus, they began discussing the finer details of the proposal. The conversation stretched on for hours as they added certain conditions to maintain balance and removed clauses that could create loopholes or unstable outcomes.

Every word carried the weight of authority, and every modification subtly shaped the fate of the whole realm and countless lives that existed within them.

Finally, after reaching a fragile yet mutually acceptable agreement, they invoked the power of their existence itself and formed an Eternal Oath.

The oath was not merely spoken but bound through their authority over laws and cosmic principles, ensuring that breaking it would result in consequences none of them could escape.

Once the oath was established, they sealed the agreement, marking the beginning of a future that would inevitably reshape the destiny of all realms.

***