"Aranus is a unique being, someone... unprecedented. He can’t be defined by any means, but can be understood.

He is a unique existence, for he is the sole being other than the three progenitors capable of being an Absolute being."

Valus sighed deeply, as if he were questioning himself, as if he couldn’t believe what he was about to say.

"A boy from a planet that barely had any mana, one that saw his parents die in front of him, and one that had to take care of his sister in a brutal orphanage. And yet, that boy who suffered from malnutrition at a young age became the dread of the universe. It was our greatest mistake; we ignored him for too long, and we paid the price.

A boy like that had the potential to become absolute, a human with nothing to his name, a boy struck with poverty, and he didn’t even have desire. The weave played a cruel trick on us."

He lowered his head and, with the motion, ignited the campfire once more. Alan retreated slightly, annoyed by the flame. Valus stared deeply into the crimson fire as he lamented.

"I always wonder what would have happened if we paid more attention; maybe he wouldn’t have fallen into the hands of the Abyss, maybe... no, he definitely would have become an Absolute. One that could actually rid us of the Creator and free us.

But nothing goes the way you want it to. And ironically enough, it’s because of that boy that we still exist. The Abyss... wasn’t able to change him; we survived purely because Aranus is good-natured at heart. If it wasn’t for the fact that he stopped the abyss and provided the chalice fuel, James wouldn’t have ever had the time to make you, and we would have already been wiped out."

Alan listened to it all silently, waiting for Valus to expand on the details.

"The Chalice ran out of fuel long ago. Aranus and Ardoris both took turns supplying it with fuel, with their own soul. It’s why Aranus’s soul, which was as big as multiple galaxies, is now only the size of a dying star, a star that he can barely rest in..."

’Ardoris...’

The name stuck in Alan’s mind; it belonged to Elijah, it was his true name, the name of the ’protagonist’ of this world. The one that James put great importance on in the setting of a ’novel’ he created. Besides, Ardoris was in his memories as well.

In fact, he was in every iteration, always the final obstacle, or something in between. He was always there, standing against Aranus without ever giving up.

Valus was aware of the thoughts Alan had in his mind, and continued, this time, on Ardoris.

"Ardoris is also a special existence, second only to Aranus, capable of reaching the levels above Supremacy. He can and has become a Primordial being, and while he is incapable of touching the Absolute Realm, he is the only one capable of becoming a Primordial. Furthermore, Ardoris was chosen by the Creator; the unique system he possesses was designed solely for stopping the abyss from using Aranus to destroy the universe.

With each iteration, the system changes, the Creator improves it, but it is still far from being able to combat [Lapsus]; it is able to resist it to a certain degree, but it is far from beating it.

When you go back to Earth, try to help him. Ardoris is in the same state as Aranus, so I’d like it if you didn’t go too overboard. He has the respect of every high-level being in the universe. However, you have to be careful. The Creator can influence Ardoris in many ways. The Abyss may be scared shitless because of James, but the Creator is another matter.

Alan knew why; it was Ardoris who was the only one who never ’gave up’. He faced the wall known as Aranus every single time and didn’t go back. Even when multiple Supremes gave up, and even the Primordials, the only one to stand in the Abyss’s way every single time. The only high level being that refused to give up.

While he had his advantages, it was still commendable, enough so that even James praised his in one of the loops. James also avoided contact with Ardoris once he fully realized himself; either he was aware of the Creator catching on to him or something else, Alan wasn’t sure.

"Ardoris and Aranus are the second-fastest people I know who ascended the ranks.

Alan tilted his head, surprised. He didn’t think anyone else could ever hope to be their match.

"Someone was faster?"

He wanted to know who it was, and then it clicked in his mind. Valus chuckled and pointed at Alan.

"You, you’re the only one that surpasses them. If we are talking about it literally, you have existed only for three years, or a little less. In that amount of time, you have successfully managed to become an SSS rank existence. Aranus and Ardoris both had their own gifts and special existences to help them out, but even they reached SSS rank in their twenties; you, on the other hand, did it in two years. Furthermore, you have great potential as well. While I cannot be certain that you are capable of reaching the rank of Absolute, you are definitely able to achieve Primordial Status.

A perfect union of the three species deserves nothing less than that, and perhaps, if you’re lucky, you can be an Absolute."

Alan felt a little proud when he heard that, although he knew a lot of things were in his favor, it was still an incredible achievement to reach the SSS rank at only eighteen. He would have done it earlier if most of his capabilities weren’t sealed. Though there was enough reason for that.

"Don’t be too full of yourself, you still have major issues, but before we discuss those, there is another matter we need to discuss, and that is your home world, Earth, and your relationship to the house of Death."