Standing in the fourth layer of the Spirit Realm, Cronus recalled the previous conversation and was once again astonished by the ancient god's boundless imagination.
Prophecy could not achieve this, that much was certain. Cronus, as he existed now, was not the same as he had been thousands of years ago; he had developed his own understanding of the present world, of fate, and of all things. He clearly knew what prophecies could and could not do.
But from another perspective, he realized that Laine had never relied on so-called 'Prophecy' to see his destiny; instead, he had used some other method.
However, this only added another layer of mystery to him. The unknown is always more terrifying than the known.
"If I hadn't seen it here, I wouldn't have known that while we were fighting tooth and nail, you still had time to busy yourself with — what, art?"
"Heh, perhaps to you, my father's actions seemed like a performance, especially designed to amuse you."
Looking at the 'ignited' scroll on the ground, Cronus said self-mockingly.
Previously, it was in such flames that he was burned of the part that floated on the 'surface', then watched as Laine adorned himself with that part.
Now, what remained before him was just a special incarnation.
"Very lifelike, if it weren't me in the painting, perhaps I would even consider collecting it."
He made an appropriate comment, though the scroll was 'burning' on the ground, the contents were still clearly visible.
Heavenly Father Uranus was pierced through the chest, yet his expression was gentle and affectionate. He seemed to be whispering softly, like a loving father imparting wisdom to his children.
Opposite him, he himself held a sickle, his face a mix of shock and anger, and the Titans had various expressions. At the bottom of the painting, the fissures in the earth were like a human face, symbolizing Mother Earth who had always been in opposition to the Sky.
This scroll recorded the fall of the first Divine King and now, it was the 'fire' ignited by it that cremated the second Divine King.
Regardless of what he himself was, 'Divine King Cronus' had already 'died'.
"This power must be 'Death'. With the 'death' of a Divine King, can it now support someone with Intermediate Divine Power?"
After all, he had only 'died' halfway, so the concept of Death's ascension had not yet reached its end. Feeling that power, Cronus seemed to envision the end of all spirits.
Of course, this did not include the gods, it could not affect the undying root of a True God. But at that moment, he recalled the only mistake in his life.
Creatures he called demigods could probably be erased from existence effortlessly.
"Indeed. The world of Chaos is terrifyingly distorted in some ways, like life and death."
Nodding in agreement, Laine reached out and drew forth a black power.
It was the 'Death' previously absorbed by the Spirit Realm, which he cast into the flames on the ground. The fire flickered and then burned more fiercely.
"Let's begin," he said, "I've got what I wanted, you have the hope of rebirth, and then we'll embark on the greatest adventure of this era together."
"An incarnation also counts as an adventure?"
He replied indifferently, and Cronus stepped forward at a leisurely pace.
"An incarnation containing a part of my essence counts indeed. If I were trapped within, I too would have quite the headache."
He answered offhandedly, as the power of the Spirit Realm was gathered, intensifying around the black fire in front of him.
In Laine's presence, the former 'King of Time and Space' entered the flames of Death. The transformation that had begun halfway was now continuing.
Even with unmatched power in the Spirit Realm, Laine could not coerce an undying True God if the other did not will it; such was the rule established at the birth of Chaos. But when the other party voluntarily cooperated, under the aegis of Great Divine Power, tiny, marvellous things began to peel off from Cronus.
It was his past, his being, his Godhood, and also the world of Chaos, the gifts from Heavenly Father and Mother Earth to his identity as 'Cronus.' With each peel, the presence of the former Divine King diminished, and the burning black fire grew more intense.
Death is weak because in Chaos, gods do not die. But as a true immortal slowly stepped into 'Death,' the strength it embodied also continued to rise.
From his feet to his knees, then spreading to his waist, neck, and over his head. The black fire of the 'Death of the Divine King' grew fiercer, enveloping Cronus completely.
Until a moment arrived when, as if the fuel was extinguished, all the black fire gradually died out. What remained in its place was only a black multifaceted crystal.
In the preceding process, the Origin of Time and Space had merged into the world, making the seven planes more stable. At the core of the Spirit Realm, a mirror that had long taken shape suddenly surged in power by several notches. Beside it, the Origin of Time trembled once or twice but did not coalesce into one.
Just as Laine had underestimated the Primordial Gods before, he also underestimated the complete Genesis Artifact. The sacred artifact belonging to Time still needed an opportunity to be born.
Of course, from another point of view, when he mentioned that the artifact symbolizing 'Time' needed a couple of eras to develop at the end of the last era, it was quite apt.
On the other side, the power drained, the somewhat blurred scroll fell to the ground after the black fire went out. Its material had been changed, having undergone fate and recursion, its 'symbolism' in certain aspects was enhanced. But after the previous burning, it no longer possessed the might of a Divine Artifact.