Chapter 158 You Are All My Wings!

Roland was completely engulfed by the pale orange liquid without any resistance.

LCL, this pale orange viscous liquid, had long been jokingly referred to as "orange juice," but from Roland's experience, the difference between the two was quite substantial.

Enveloped by this fluid, Roland felt the power of his mind and his thoughts being continuously magnified, much like a nearsighted person putting on glasses for the very first time, bringing absolute clarity.

He could hear the inner thoughts of the adventurers below, the anxiety and anticipation in the hearts of the surface survivors in Orario, and could even sense the Dungeon itself, curiously attempting to peer through the Cocoon of the World.

Most importantly, the liquid itself served as an excellent medium. It provided both spiritual and physical protection while sustaining life. Within it, aside from warmth and tranquility, he felt no abnormal emotions whatsoever.

This was, after all, the most fundamental form of flora and fauna that had evolved to the present day—the Water of Life.

Roland had unconsciously reverted to his dragon form, but surrounded by the Water of Life, his body gradually shrank. His sharp claws turned back into fair hands, and his scales slowly morphed into skin. However, unlike the previous state where he had forcibly compressed his power, the strength and divine might contained within his dragon form suffered no restrictions whatsoever.

The Water of Life merely adjusted Roland's body into a form that was more adaptable and comfortable for him.

Yet, compared to this, Roland's mind and memories were reviewing themselves like a rolling scroll. Acknowledging one's own weakness was truly a rather difficult thing to do.

Power and confidence were twins; holding victory in one's hand made it hard to notice the things crushed beneath one's feet, and holding success made a person unquestionable.

In this sense, no wonder Roland always felt in Type-Moon that the time was never quite right to ascend to Heaven. Perhaps, though he hadn't noticed it at the time, his intuitive sense of fate had told him his spiritual state did not yet meet the requirements of Heaven.

Under such circumstances, even if he had genuinely obtained a Stand that surpassed Heaven, he would have only ended up like Father Pucci, falling short just before the dawn of the New World.

Fate was such an ironic thing.

He was not a born powerhouse, but someone who had climbed up step by step relying on luck and courage. Though the former Roland possessed immense power, it was no different from constantly walking along the edge of a sheer cliff.

And now, the path ahead, previously shrouded in fog, lay completely clear before his eyes.

Evils of Humanity, Thousandfold Wisdom, Possibilities, the Fire Demon, Fate—they gradually melted into his primordial self.

The true meaning of Adam was, after all, the Primordial Man.

Upon realizing this, Roland felt everything around him spring to life. A contradictory yet complex sensation made him feel as if he were crossing between illusion and reality, stirring up a profound desire.

He greedily absorbed the nourishment around him. His power and mind were constantly evolving, striving toward the most perfect organism, the ultimate organism, trying to touch the realm of gods with a non-divine body.

A sacred double helix began to entwine around Roland's form. Theoretically, a most perfect organism did not exist; human genes, the unstable structure of that double helix, were precisely the source of the capacity for mutation and evolution.

It was merely limited by the physical flesh, restricting this capacity, which was why the void forged by the power of the mind had been so immensely powerful.

Yet precisely because of this, people called upon that illusory ultimate organism—the existence symbolizing the end, free from theorems and the will of the world—in the name of "God."

As for the madmen attempting to touch this realm, the world did not even need to cast down sanctions, because this very desire for inquiry was part of the sanction.

Beneath a truly perfect physical body, those lacking the vessel would instead become flaws upon perfection, ultimately devoured by this power.

There was no need to listen to the words of others, so eyes, ears, nose, and mouth were unnecessary.

Fearless of environmental temperature mutations, hair and limbs were unnecessary.

Immortal, neither drinking nor eating, internal organs were unnecessary.

Without weaknesses, undying and indestructible, survival and reproduction were equally unnecessary.

Therefore, Roland

—ceased to think.

Roland felt only that he was situated within a dream, unable to perceive the existence of physical form, wandering aimlessly in a chaotic posture through a pitch-black space.

Unaware of the passage of time, unaware of the rise and fall of things, feelings of loneliness and emptiness devoured his soul.

—Thus, the mind began to form a barrier, beginning to resist everything, to look upon everything with indifference, wanting to destroy everything that did not belong to itself.

Surrounded by the warm Water of Life, Roland's thoughts continuously sank along with this sensation, as if he too had dissolved into a part of these waters, becoming a part of the world.

"Roland, open your eyes. I am Lilith."

"Wake up, my Adam."

Two familiar voices rang out, reawakening Roland's dormant thoughts. He forced himself to break away from this warmth, slowly opened his eyes, and looked at the young girl before him.

However—

"Two... True Names?"

The surrounding Sea of Life had vanished, leaving only a space of pure white. Roland felt himself completely unclad, floating lightly in the air, and the two girls beside him were in the exact same state.

That vast expanse of breathtakingly delicate skin not only lacked any sense of mystery for the absence of clothing's adornment, but instead carried an otherworldly allure. Like porcelain dolls refined as works of art, bodies resembling the most perfect creation of the heavens floated right within Roland's reach.

In this most primordial environment, rather than losing worldly desires, Roland became even more infatuated.

Looking at the two figures before him who resembled twins, he gradually understood the current situation.

Aside from the Key of All Souls, there was nothing else around. This place was likely the so-called mental space, and the two before him were Lilith and Managi.

Due to the difference in aura, Roland quickly recognized the distinction between the two girls: ethereal and detached, maintaining a distinct alienation from all ordinary things, was Lilith.

Looking at Roland with an enchanting and dependent gaze was Managi.

Under the pure Light of the Soul, desires and tactile sensations were magnified to the extreme. Roland could clearly feel the fiery emotions of the two girls; simply being gazed upon made Roland feel as though his body were about to ignite.

The thoughts and emotions among the three were completely unmasked, directly transmitted—joy, sorrow, happiness, and delight.

Everything was magnified to the extreme; suffering, grief, and joy lost all mystery through this direct blending. If this were Heaven, Roland would believe it.

Yet he only quietly gazed at the two girls before him, feeling the purest desire deep within his heart.

The desire to reproduce, to evolve, to be born.

The moment this thought arose, pale golden light suddenly emerged from the depths of Roland's eyes—the light belonging to the mind and soul.

Dazzling light surged like threads from the surface of his body, weaving into intersecting, chaotic strings that connected to Lilith and Saiman Managi, pulling them to Roland's side.

"Master, you are Managi's eternal and only Adam."

Saiman Managi affectionately hugged Roland's arm along the threads, pressing her body close to him without the slightest sense of incongruity.

"Lilin, you have already absorbed Adam's power, given birth to the fruit, and possess the qualification of a 'God'."

Lilith showed no resistance either, pointing toward a deep crimson orb in the center of the pure white space.

Just by looking at it, Roland could feel the endlessly swelling and boundless power of the other party. Around the orb, twelve kinds of divine might, wrapped in demonic energy, guarded it like a palace guard. What connected them was precisely the power of the Third Magic—Heaven's Feel.

Looking at that object resembling a secondary organ, Roland instantly comprehended its existence.

That was the prize born from his absorption of Adam's power after consuming the Sea of Life—the Fruit of Life. Combined with the power of the Evils of Humanity, he now possessed the qualifications of a divinity. Although there was still a gap in the magnitude of life and wisdom, when it was thoroughly completed and bloomed, it would surely be the most beautiful scenery.

"Heaven..."

Roland raised an eyebrow, turned around, and looked at the two young girls beside him.

"So, is this the final moment?"

"Yes."

The two girls spoke in unison. Because their minds were completely connected, whenever one finished a sentence, the other would seamlessly continue.

"Right now, we are in a state of interconnected minds and complete fusion."

"This is proof that our mental barriers have completely complemented each other, but it is still not enough."

"Only when this external form of the soul completely vanishes can you truly achieve completion with us."

"And then, you will completely revive in this world with brand-new power and posture."

The twin-like girls held hands and gazed intently at Roland.

"So, who will you choose?"

Choosing Lilith, Roland would become the entity that reaped this world, completing everything within it with a god-like posture before departing.

Choosing Eve, Roland would destroy everything in the old world, give birth to new life, and become the master of the new world.

When Roland chose one, the power of the other would become subsidiary. Yet even facing this choice concerning existence itself, the two girls still projected benevolent emotions.

"This is also the final trial. If you cannot withstand this impact when your mental barriers are completely lost, your current personality will vanish."

Even at this juncture, they still cared about everything concerning Roland. Only because their minds were connected could Roland truly experience their attitude toward him.

—Sincerely for you.

Without any selfish motives, just like when they had awakened him from the mental barrier where he had stopped thinking, they treated Roland as the center of the world in all their considerations.

This scene was practically a reenactment of mythology. In ancient Eden, the first human created was Adam, and the first woman created was Lilith. Because Lilith was dissatisfied that her status was lower than Adam's, she fled the Garden of Eden, thereby earning the title of demon, meeting Satan, and giving birth to Lililin.

And God, to compensate Adam, used his rib to create Eve, and the two together propagated humanity.

Yet Roland had no intention of being bound by mythology like this, completing a tragic reenactment like Gilgamesh.

Though bold, though arrogant, since he intended to rule the world, he naturally ought to perform rebellious deeds.

Moreover, if one were truly to speak in terms of mythology, this was precisely the choice Roland ought to make.

He was both Lililin and human, both Satan and Adam.

"Then there is only one answer."

Holding the hands of both girls, Roland gave his decision.

"—You are both my wings!"

The so-called choices were merely words used by children to comfort themselves when powerless.

As a mature adult, Roland naturally chose: I want them all!

Having made his choice, Roland's intense yearning was also transmitted into the consciousness of Lilith and Managi.

Roland's consciousness felt pleasantly intoxicated, like a light tipsiness, and a distinct flush appeared on the cheeks of Saiman Managi and Lilith.

Within the pure white space, the figures of the three melted into one, initiating the fusion of their souls on a spiritual level.

And in this undivided moment, Roland also experienced the pain of those absorbed soul-lights striking like a torrential rain or sharp blades.

Yet he did not even have the option to evade; he could only stubbornly endure it.

With each passing second he endured, Roland felt his entire being battered to pieces within this torment akin to death by a thousand cuts.

Yet, conversely, while his soul suffered damage, it was simultaneously infecting those incoming attacks, turning them into material to mend his flesh.

One second of erosion, one second of being eroded—utterly fair, just like the rules and theorems of the world.

Amidst the worried cries of the two girls, Roland's emotions continuously sublimated, like steel forged in fire.

"What right to think is equal... If that were true, then why can I still see those gears?"

From the moment he obtained the Key of All Souls, Roland knew clearly.

In this world, there would always be entities who were favored. The power exclusive to gods that required exhausting all one's efforts to touch in one world might merely be a starting point in another.

Under the effect of the mental barriers, all divisions ceased to exist, but certain traits remained impossible to mask.

With a gaze of proud disdain, he looked down upon all the pain slicing into his flesh and emitted a merciless, mocking laugh.

"{THE WORLD!} Time belongs solely to me!

—Wyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!"

(End of Chapter)