CHAPTER 226: NOPE

"System, how many elements are there?"

[As you are most likely referring to the scientific definition, one hundred eighteen.]

"And how many combinations are there?"

[That is impossible to answer.]

Elian tapped into his new abilities as he envisioned one of the deadliest weapons known to man. A rotary cannon. It was basically a bunch of guns tied together and rotated in a circle. In terms of fire rate and destructive power, few could match it.

With a single thought, he memorized and envisioned one, understanding all its components, materials, and mechanism.

"Synthesize."

A great wave of heat suddenly radiated outward. It was so intense it would have melted a common man just from standing too close. In an instant, the heat turned the very air orange. First, it gathered and was soft like snow; then it gained form and turned solid.

Black fragments gathered in the air and began to mix with the material rapidly; it cooled and cracked, leaving a silver finish. Within a few seconds, Elian’s concept manifested in the real world.

Thousands of floating rotary cannons hovered behind Elian. Like silent guards, they moved with his advance.

"Have each gun fire a permutation of bullets made from every possible element combination. I need to find the elemental combination that will work on him."

[That would require an incalculable number of combinations. Some elements aren’t even solid, and even if you could change their states, how would you hope to power the energy needed to create them from thin air?]

Elian smiled, "How else? I will create the power using nuclear fusion."

While modern science needed colossal amounts of power to change the basic things in an atom, Elian didn’t. He could do so with just Bio-Synthetic Architect, provided he precisely understood the atomic structure he wanted and could turn his metals nanoscopic.

That would have proven a challenge for an Elian with the Intelligence of a Radiant or even a Dusk-tier level. But the Tyrant of Earth leapfrogged to the summit of power. As a Twilight-tiered being, he could do all of these and more.

Using Bio-Synthetic Architect, Elian added protons and neutrons to oxygen, essentially creating nuclear reactions with just his mind. His metals, which were present all around him like dust, both controlled and harnessed the power.

All of a sudden, Elian’s ability to weaponize science reached levels not scientifically possible.

Refocusing on his battle, Elian quickly reached his opponent. Despite being on the same level as him, Origin’s face contorted as Elian’s fist reached him.

"Get away from my wife, bastard! HA!"

Using his full weight, Elian threw a powerful punch. Given his current body and power, the potential kinetic energy in his attack would have been enough to destroy a mountain.

Yet mere centimeters before touching Origin’s head, his fist stopped. A loud, earth-shattering sound echoed. Like a peal of thunder, it rumbled, causing powerful gales to blow against Elian and Origin.

"WHAT IS GOING ON?! WHY?! HOW ARE YOU AT LEVEL 100?!"

Elian didn’t answer; instead, he rotated his body to send a roundhouse kick toward Origin’s side. But again, his blow fierce attack was stopped perfectly.

"Tsk. An invisible shield?"

Taking a step back, Elian made his next move. Using the hair still forming from the back of his head, he spread and divided the metal to turn them into long sharp swords. With a flick of his finger, he sent them all racing towards Origin.

Like a hailstorm of blades, they all clicked and clacked against Origin’s shield. However, like snakes, they all immediately came back after rebounding to strike again from a different angle.

Sparks and embers glowed as Elian’s swords probed Origin’s defenses. Despite there being dozens of deadly blades, not a single one managed to connect.

"Hmm, I really need the slayer-metal, huh? Can’t you save us both the trouble and just tell me?"

"W-Wha... YOU!" Despite not having a face, Elian understood Origin’s feelings completely. Centuries of combat and observation made him an expert. Seeing the confusion and exhaustion from his opponent’s faceless head, he chuckled.

"What? After a hundred and twenty-four losses, you still think you can win this?"

At Elian’s provocation, Origin’s jaw clenched and roared.

"ARGGGGHHHHH!!!!"

A powerful blast of mana and energy exploded outward from Origin, scorching even the air. Unfazed, Elian created a long spear as Origin was throwing a tantrum and threw it.

Although he made an impressive counterattack, his spear shattered against Origin’s shield. His swords that did not stop their assault were all disintegrated. The light flowed outward, eventually encompassing everything.

"Steel."

When the light faded, Elian and Origin were a few meters away from each other, locked in a stare-down. Elian’s body turned orange but rapidly began to cool. The sharp hiss and the haze surrounding him were enough to see just how hot Origin’s attack got.

[You have gained 2 stacks of Divine Invulnerability. Max HP is reduced by 2%.]

The only reason Elian was still alive was not because he could shrug off the attack but rather that he endured and regenerated from it.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! IT WAS MY SISTER, WASN’T IT? SHE BETRAYED ME! HOW DID SHE DO IT? HOW!!!"

Turning deranged, Origin’s white body rapidly changed colors as if it were undergoing metamorphosis. Much like a chameleon, he went from hue to hue without reason or rhyme.

Meanwhile, Elian simply waited.

There was a reason he had to stand in this place. That same reason meant he could not run away even though Origin clearly detonated himself. Naturally, it was because of the person Elian loved the most.

"Bianca," he absentmindedly murmured.

Yet unknown to him, the few seconds he bought to keep her safe were all that she needed. Elian suddenly felt a soft hand grab his and intertwine their fingers together.

The gesture felt extremely familiar and comforting. As if their hands were created to find each other. Unable to stop himself, although his body had yet to finish its transformation, Elian smiled.

Then came the voice he had longed to hear all this time.

"I have kept you waiting, Elian."

Elian turned to see Bianca encased in a suit of light. Apart from her eyes and mouth, everything else was covered in rainbow patterns that shifted every moment. Personally, he found her beautiful, although he knew he must have looked the same to her.

As Twilight-tiered fighters, physical form meant little; thus, even though they were still ascending, both Elian and his wife could already speak and touch each other. It was only when their ascensions ended that their final forms would manifest.

"I don’t mind. Have you spoken to your mom yet?"

Although he didn’t specifically say who he meant, Bianca responded with a cheerful expression.

"I did. We talked a whole lot." Her eyes narrowed, and she immediately leaned in to kiss Elian on the cheek.

"I-I... I want to thank you Elian. For everything. I mean it."

Elian said nothing and only gently squeezed the hand of his wife. Although they both learned of the horrifying fates they encountered in over a hundred worlds, what mattered more was the current reality.

"This just got a whole lot simpler," Elian reported.

"Yeah. Basically, just two final opponents, right? Origin and the Tyrant of the End?"

"Yep."

"HOW COULD SHE DO THIS TO ME! ME? HER ONLY FAMILY? DID ALL THOSE YEARS AS A FINITE BEING TURN HER STUPID! CURSE YOU #########!!! I WON’T EVER FORGIVE YOU #######..."

Origin, who seemed to have lost his mind, shouted in a deranged manner.

"Hmm... Elian, you seem to have broken him," Bianca said dryly. "At least put him out of his misery."

"Huh? What makes you think I did it? It’s your mom’s fault! If anything, I’m the one who got the short end of the stick cleaning up her mess."

Chuckling, Bianca gazed at her husband affectionately. She leaned in and whispered.

"That comes pack and parcel with taking me as your wife. Having second thoughts?"

"Nope."

An immediate reply; Bianca’s smile grew even more.

"As your husband, I will do my duty. This is all still for my main goal."

"Your main goal?" she asked, perplexed.

"Yeah, to make you happy..."

"Elian..."

Although the two wanted nothing more than to bond at this moment, Elian gripped Bianca’s hand as his eyes remained on Origin.

"Sush, I know I’m extremely handsome right now, but let’s do this first, darling. After we take care of all these bastards, then we will have our happy ending. Look forward to it."

"Mhmm. Your shamelessness is unbelievable, but as I find you charming, I will allow it. Fine, we will settle this later."

"Yeah. I will take point; support me," Elian commanded.

Bianca turned around and gestured to the army of rotary cannons around them.

"What are these supposed to be?"

"I need to find a specific combination of elements. The Tyrant of the End calls it the slayer metal. It’s the only thing that can hurt Origin. He changes it every cycle."

"I see. And I am supposed to do what exactly?"

"Protect them."

"Mhm. Got it."

The sounds of sharp clicks resounded in the quiet space. Apart from Origin’s deafening roars, the area was quiet as if it were in a vacuum.

"I just finished loading the damn things."

The sheer mental capacity to choose and fabricate each bullet already enters the realm of immortals. If one added the power and bravery to attempt such a thing, only Elian Reed would fit the bill.

WRRRRRRRRRRRR!

In unison, the dull whirring of gears began. Each rotary cannon’s barrel spun as the guns came to life. Each weapon was loaded with thousands of bullets of various combinations of elements, all having the same potential.

The potential to kill a divine being.

As fate would have it, Origin suddenly stopped shouting at this moment. Only for him to speak in a manner so fast that Elian and Bianca had trouble understanding.

"NoSheDidn’tBetrayMe.No.SheGaveMeAChance.TheTyrantOfEndHasNotBeenBornYet.InThisUniverseElianReedDidNotBecomeTheTyrantofTheEnd.MeaningIfICanTakeYouDownRightHereThereWouldBeNoOtherPersonToInheritHisLegacy.ThisIsIt.ThisisMyChance.ICanWin.ICanSurvive.NoSheDidn’tBetrayMe.Ihaven’tLostYet."

Like a video on fast forward, Origin rambled as he faced Elian. Despite not having eyes, if he had any at that moment, they would surely look deranged and hollow. Like a crack addict who just figured out where to get his next fix.

"Elian..."

"Stick to the plan. No matter what happens, protect the guns. I can keep him at bay."

"Understood," Bianca said through clenched teeth.

Elian gazed one last time at his beloved wife and then back at Origin.

"EEEEELIIIIIAAAAANNNNN REEEEEEDDDDDDD!!!!" he roared as he charged forward like an animal.

"Round two, you bastard. Time to end this!"