NOVPUB
Chapter 301: 301
Björn stared at the barrel in his hand, his expression unreadable as Mahu’s words echoed in the desolate realm around them. "Ah, the Upside Down," he murmured, turning the barrel in his hands as if contemplating something.
"And why should I care about that cursed place?" Björn asked, locking eyes with Mahu.
Mahu leaned forward slightly, her smirk never fading. "Because the expansion of the hole threatens more than just your people. It will consume everything, even the remnants of what you once held dear. You may not care now, but if the Upside Down breaches further into this world, your precious kingdom, your war, and all that you’ve built will be swallowed whole. You’ll lose everything—again."
Björn’s grip on the barrel tightened, the wood creaking under the force. "Unfortunately, I don’t have much knowledge of the Upside Down."
"That cursed place is one of the mysteries that has plagued existence since the beginning of time. Even we demons of the abyss have no such knowledge of what happens there. Every bit of information about that world is held personally by those who’ve dealt with it."
"As for the expansion of the hole, I might have some ways to deal with that. Either you step into the Upside Down itself and fight back your counterpart or opposite selves, or you create a big seal to stop the hole from expanding further," Björn said, looking at Mahu, whose frown deepened.
"My brothers are asking," Mahu said, communicating with Crepuscular and Jaws, "what are the chances we come back unharmed from the Upside Down?"
"The chances are pretty high, as your counterparts were only recently born. If not for the absence of Ikeng and Keles opening the hole, they would still be biding their time, growing before making a move like they are now," Björn answered.
A silver portal opened behind Mahu. Before stepping through, she turned to Björn. "You should deal with Murmur quickly—for the sake of everyone, and yourself."
As Mahu emerged from the silver portal into her realm, the familiar cool air wrapped around her like a cloak. Crepuscular and Jaws were already seated, waiting for her.
Crepuscular’s voice was the first to break the silence, his deep, gravelly tone reverberating through the air. "So, which one do we choose—the seal or going there ourselves?" His sharp eyes gleamed with curiosity and a hint of unease.
Jaws, who had remained quiet until now, shifted restlessly. His massive frame bristled with tension, his gaping maw stretching slightly as if considering the taste of the battle to come. "I don’t like the idea of sealing something like that," he growled. "Feels too temporary. If the hole’s already expanding, it’s just a matter of time before it breaks through again."
Mahu crossed her arms, her gaze thoughtful as she considered their options. Björn had given them two choices: step into the Upside Down and confront their counterparts, or create a seal that would temporarily halt the expansion of the breach. Neither option was without risk.
"The seal might buy us time," Mahu said slowly, her voice steady, "but I agree with Jaws. It’s a patch, not a solution. Sooner or later, the Upside Down will push through. We could find ourselves in a worse situation, dealing with a larger breach, stronger counterparts, and more chaos."
Crepuscular nodded but remained cautious. "But entering the Upside Down is no small matter either. You heard Björn—the counterparts are newly born, yes, but they are still dangerous. Stepping into that realm... it’s their home, their ground. We’ll be at a disadvantage. There are three of us, but five of them."
Jaws let out a low snarl. "I don’t care if it’s their home. If we strike now, while they’re still young, we can finish them before they have a chance to become a real threat. The longer we wait, the more powerful they become. And I’d rather face them head-on than spend eternity watching a seal slowly crumble."
Crepuscular shook his head. "Time is a double-edged blade for us at this very moment. Buying ourselves time means there’s a slight chance for our two other siblings to return, and things could go back to normal. You’re right that the longer we wait, the harder it will be, but we should also try to buy time for our siblings."
Mahu nodded at Crepuscular’s words before asking him, "Do you have any idea how to build a seal, and what type of seal we should use to close the breach?" 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
Crepuscular tapped the table between them, where an image of the godling race appeared. "Our children and their people have come far in things like rune-building, which I think is necessary for a seal. We could have them work on it, explain the situation, and see if they can create a miracle."
Mahu took in Crepuscular’s words, her sharp gaze flickering over the image of the godling race floating between them. The thought of relying on their children’s ingenuity was both a risk and a necessity. Their offspring had evolved in ways even the three siblings couldn’t have anticipated, though Mahu was hesitant to put faith in them for something as critical as sealing the breach.
"We would need to move quickly," Mahu said, her voice steady but tinged with urgency. "If the Upside Down keeps expanding, we might not have the luxury of time for them to figure this out. But if they are as advanced as you say, then perhaps we can buy ourselves a window."
Jaws folded his arms, his expression still skeptical. "You’re suggesting we sit and wait for our children to come up with a miracle while that hole keeps growing? I’m not thrilled about placing our fate in their hands."
Crepuscular looked unfazed by Jaws’ objection. "True, but their understanding of runes has surpassed ours. Our innate talent for doing things without training or understanding how it works limits us in some ways."
To demonstrate, Crepuscular drew a rune in midair. Mahu and Jaws stared at the glowing symbol before Crepuscular spoke again. "You both can do what I just did. You’ve just never bothered because it’s been of no use to you, or you never needed to."
Pointing at the rune, Crepuscular added, "When I wanted to create this rune, I had something in mind for shielding, and this was the result. I succeeded, yet I have no idea why it worked."
Mahu’s eyes narrowed as she studied the rune, her fingers twitching slightly, as if tempted to dispel it. Jaws gave it a disinterested glance, still skeptical.
"So, you’re saying we’re powerful enough to create without truly understanding," Mahu mused, her tone thoughtful. "But that lack of understanding is also our limitation."
Crepuscular nodded. "Exactly. The three of us, as origin gods, can create runes instinctively, but it’s more like... brute force. Our power shapes the world around us, yes, but we do so without fully comprehending the deeper mechanics at play. That’s where the godlings and our offspring excel."
Jaws huffed in annoyance. "So what? Power is power. I could crush that rune with a thought. What good is their precision if they can’t match our strength?"
Crepuscular remained calm. "It’s not about strength, Jaws. It’s about control. Yes, we can create runes and seals, but our methods are raw—almost chaotic. Think about it: if we were to create a seal to stop the breach, how stable would it be? How long before our lack of understanding leads to its collapse?"
Mahu’s brow furrowed as she processed the idea. "You’re suggesting that while we may have the raw power, they have the knowledge to create something far more sustainable."
"Exactly," Crepuscular continued. "The godlings have spent generations studying the laws that govern rune crafting and magic. They don’t just wield power—they’ve built intricate systems of knowledge around it. Every rune they create has a purpose and structure. They can control outcomes with precision because they understand how and why these things work."
Jaws frowned, still doubtful. "But we’ve lived for ages—what’s stopping us from learning that too?"
Crepuscular shook his head. "It’s not that simple. We are beings of raw force. Our power is innate—woven into our very essence. It’s why we don’t need to learn. When we desire something, it happens. You’ve all noticed it too—as we get stronger, our capabilities grow, and certain things that once seemed impossible now come naturally."
"But the godlings and our offspring are closer to the mortal world. They’ve developed not just power, but mastery over that power. Their abilities might seem weaker, but they’re far more refined."
Jaws nodded slowly. "So even though we could create a seal, it would be a temporary fix at best—because we’d be doing it without understanding the full implications. Our seal might hold for a while, but it would eventually fail."
"Exactly," Crepuscular replied. "With our guidance, they can create a seal that may not only stop the breach but prevent further expansion. We can provide the power they need, but they’ll provide the precision."
