Meanwhile, in the Firmament, Regretless stood with Night and Cloud by his side. One silent due to lack of words, the other due to internal conflicts. The three stood before the Firmament Tree, with Regretless' eyes going up and down its kaleidoscopic shape with a profound sorrow in his gaze.
Sorrow made place for decisiveness, and he clenched his fists.
"Night, why are you still here?"
Regretless asked, making Night and Cloud snap out of their torpor.
"No tie bind us any longer. There is no need for you to keep following me. So why are you still here? Depart at once. The Firmament no longer welcomes you."
Regretless ordered, without turning his back. But though Night's emotionless eyes showed no change, Cloud's widened in disbelief.
"I don't know anything else, and have nowhere else to go."
Night simply replied. Cloud, however, didn't show such restraint.
"Elder brother, how can you speak such words? Just because Night is no longer the same, you're going to abandon him?"
Cloud snarled, unable to believe those words. Still, Night remained practical.
"It indeed makes no sense for me to remain. Very well, the Omniverse is vast. Perhaps it is now time I learn about its lives to break my shackles and become a High Supreme."
Night reasoned and turned heels, vanishing in a deadening force as he departed from the Firmament. But even as his form dissipated, Regretless' voice echoed in his mind.
"The proper road to becoming Almighty starts with Nothingness, follows with Infiniteness and ends with All-Transcendence. Since you reached Sublime Nothingness Insight first, although your talent is limited, you still have a chance. Do not pursue Life Transcendence, first seek the road to Infiniteness. If one day you can reach Sublime Insight, then becoming Almighty isn't impossible."
Those were the last words Regretless would ever speak to Night.
Now, only Cloud remained behind.
"You think this is just about Night? I've grown sick of all of you. All born traitors. All unreliable! What use is there in keeping you? I want you out of my sight!"
Regretless snapped, yet still didn't turn to face the confused Cloud.
"I don't believe..."
"You must! Isn't Konrad your sworn brother? In those difficult times, he will surely welcome a Supreme retainer. Go join him! Go join Blood Nether and Moon, or wander indefinitely for all I care. Henceforth, you and I have no ties."
Regretless cut, leaving Cloud no room to question his will. Still, Cloud couldn't accept this. No. The more Regretless spoke, the more he felt something amiss. It was almost as if...Regretless was making preparations for his funerals.
"Elder brother, even if the omniverse turns its back at you, I...will never abandon you. In life or in death, I must stay with you."
As his words echoed, there was no hint of hesitation in Cloud's eyes. He stood straight like an arrow, unwilling to back down from the violent winds Regretless' words heralded. For a second, Regretless' lips curled into a smile. But still, he didn't soften.
"That being the case, you leave me no choice.
Innate Skill: Omniarch Will."
With those words, Cloud lost control of his very essence, becoming powerless before Regretless' will.
"Cloud, I command you to let go of me, to let go of our past and ties, and never again see me as your brother. We have no ties, we have no bonds. You are free to roam the world as you see fit, to wander indefinitely.
Do all your heart yearns for, and never again...cling to the memory of Regretless."
Regretless ordered, using the compulsive power of his Omniarch Blood to force Cloud into obedience.
"No...no...noooooo!"
Cloud barked, and as he desperately thrashed against the supreme command, his eyes went bloodshot. Alas, he couldn't resist it. All ties and bonds, all they'd built for eons, collapsed on the spot, leaving Cloud unable to see Regretless as anything but...a stranger.
Regretless waved his right hand, releasing irresistible force that carried Cloud beyond the Firmament.
"Little brother, having had you as a brother, I have not lived in vain. But if I don't do this, you'll seek revenge. And that, I can't bear.
But don't worry, even if it's the last thing I do, I will ensure you live the remainder of eternity as you please.
Regretless whispered with a helpless smile.
"I am not suited to be a cultivator, not suited to be a father, not suited to be a ruler. Imperial father, you won."
If before, Regretless wished to lock himself in an Infinite Time Loop to pursue all possible breakthroughs, now he no longer had the will. But still, he would have to—if only to satisfy Celestial Slaughter's plans.
…
Meanwhile, within his imperial palace, alongside his consorts, Konrad attempted to map a complete picture of his father of two lives' plans. Supremacy came from the self. Absorbing it from others was a pipe's dream. However, using them as a push to further one's understanding was undoubtedly possible.
Konrad believed Celestial Slaughter would use this time to pursue his Infiniteness Insight, then refine Regretless to reach the summit. As for how he could get his sworn enemy to become that obedient? For him who most likely had his hands on Highest Dragon and Regretless' mother, wasn't that simplicity itself?
What was the best way to tame an incorruptible man? Force him into debt, inflate it to the point where death or redemption are his only options, then give him a road to salvation. This was exactly what Celestial Slaughter did. And knowing Regretless, Konrad didn't doubt that if the choice was between his life and those two's, he'd choose them without a second thought.
That being the case, unless he could snatch them from Celestial Slaughter's hands, attempting to stop the upcoming events was...impossible.
"Actually, the situation isn't that complicated."
Else began as she stepped forward.
"Celestial Slaughter knows you will seek the Firmament's Throne and is undoubtedly ready to thwart that plan. Worse, you have no idea of what seizing the Firmament's Throne truly entails, but he probably does. That being the case, do not.
Instead of chasing that throne, chase his plan. When you step into the Firmament, divert their attention toward the throne, and seek Regretless instead. Directly kill or refine him, then even if you can't kill Celestial Slaughter, he can't use him against you.
Afterward, you can deal with that headache with more assurance."
Else proposed, making the others nod in approval. Outwardly, Konrad agreed.
"I'd already considered that option. However, that Void Dragon Blood is remarkably elusive. Hopefully, the third Forbidden Physique will be enough to restrain it. Krann, I will give you the target's position. Bring him to me."
Initially, those were the gists of Konrad's Plan B. But now he no longer put any hope on it. Only Plan C could bring them victory.
Meanwhile, Krann bowed in approval.
"At once!"
Konrad then imprinted the coordinates into his mind, and Krann vanished to seize the last Forbidden Physique owner. The imperial family dispersed, leaving Konrad alone in his throne room.
"Celestial Slaughter possesses more than one Infiniteness Supreme by his side. If it's just about using them as food to further his own understanding, why would he focus solely on Regretless?
This is the Omniverse's most ancient existence we're talking about. One who's been scheming against the world from before it was even fully formed, aware of secrets no one else possesses. Your thoughts are too simple. All stand on his chessboard. To win, we first need to step out of it."
Konrad whispered. Celestial Slaughter's cunning made the likes of Adelar and Surya look like misbehaving toddlers. For once, Konrad was forced to admit he'd clashed with a maze he couldn't entirely see through. Otherwise, he'd never resort to a plan that made a gamble out of his own life.
With a sigh, Konrad stood up, diving into his chambers where a guest and prisoner awaited.
The Warden, sitting crossed-legged in meditation, and Blood Nether blindfolded and bound on his bed. With her soul in Konrad's hands, she had no means to struggle against those chains.
Still, the unconcealed clatter of his footsteps alerted her to his presence.
"Dragon Warden, damnable bastard! If you have the gals, remove my chains!"
Blood Nether snarled, making Konrad roll his eyes.