Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 423: Born of One, Powered by the Other

Chapter 423: Born of One, Powered by the Other

She tried to keep coherent thought but found herself unable to perhaps because it felt like a million versions of her were attempting to assert dominance in a strange war between egos.

It was at that moment that she realized that she consisted of a variety of egos that had existed before her present... incarnation.

Regardless, a certain voice calling out to her in the distance allowed her to gain focus, and with that, she asserted dominance and despite her skepticism, managed to overcome the other egos to be established as the main aspect.

As she opened her metaphorical eyes she found herself standing in a land that resembled a doodle version of Eventide with eerie shadows lurking at every corner.

Blinking, she pulled repeated blanks despite her attempts to figure out what this place was called.

Then she heard her name and turned to find Princess Berenice standing a few meters away, her demeanor untouched by the cruel ravages of time.

"Princess..." Elena muttered softly as she deigned it necessary to pay homage only for the Princess to speak.

"Please... I would appreciate it if you don’t do that."

"Ah... I understand."

Princess Berenice seemed satisfied with her response as she studied the scenery, her expression holding the same type of curiosity she held whenever she encountered something new and interesting.

Taking a shot, Elena inquired. "Do you know where we are, Princess?"

"Not at all." The Princess replied before adding. "However, if I were to guess, it might be a dimension of your creation, one born out of your unique relationship with two different Branches."

"I don’t understand."

"Born of one and powered by the other." Princess Berenice intoned cryptically before casually changing the topic. "I believe congratulations are in order."

"Why?"

"Can’t you feel it?"

"... I’m sorry, Princess, but unlike you, I am quite slow."

Princess Berenice managed a smile. "You aren’t as slow as you think. Anyway, I am referring to your acquisition of your own identity."

"What?"

"Perhaps checking out your present state would help you understand better."

Still confused, Elena looked down at her hands to find that they were made of floating gold dust. "This..."

Not just her hands, but her entire body was currently composed of floating gold dust.

"What’s going on, Princess?"

"To be honest, even I am a bit vague on the details. However, I believe you should have an answer to what’s happening. A little introspection should help."

"..." Elena pursed her lips before deciding to do as the Princess suggested.

Then slowly, it all became clear.

Her act of declaration before her untimely demise had held mystical significance, allowing her to break the bindings that made her be seen by the Will of the World as merely a means to end Princess Berenice’s life.

As of this moment, she was a completely different existence from Elena the doppelganger who had died and so for that reason, her form could no longer take on Princess Berenice’s form.

Such a discovery naturally left Elena bombarded by a variety of emotions as she stood in place.

Joy that she had managed to take a solid step forward away from just being the Princess’s clone, sadness that she won’t be able to take another.

"Figured it out?" Berenice inquired, earning a nod from Elena.

A few seconds of silence passed before the latter inquired. "How come you are here then?"

"It’s complicated. Though your identity is independent, the other egos within you are not. They are the ones that came together to form a projection of me."

"So you aren’t really here?"

"If it were so easy to leave Limbo, we would have left by now."

"I understand. But then why would they do that?"

"I would like to know as well." Princess Berenice muttered with interest as her eyes once again shifted to scrutinize the surrounding space.

Elena pursed her lips while pondering potential reasons as to why the other egos had envisioned Princess Berenice’s ego.

One stuck out the most but after further consideration, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was the right reason.

After much thought, she decided to ask, what’s the worst that would happen if she was wrong, anyway?

"Do you have any idea how I can go back?"

Princess Berenice paused. "That... doesn’t seem possible."

"Oh..." Elena muttered disappointedly.

She’d known it was too much of a stretch but thought it best to pose the question regardless.

"However, that is only in the case of a normal living being, which you are not."

"What are you talking about?"

"You are molded from the very dust that is shed by the Godstone, by the Will of the World which is the residual will of the Absolute One and you currently share a deep relationship with yet another Branch. Most importantly, you have awakened the domain of Dimensionality."

Elena remained silent, listening as the Princess gave her two cents on the matter.

"Perhaps you might just be able to create a miracle utilizing the connection you have with the Branches to temporarily increase your state, perhaps advancing to a being capable of ignoring the restraints of the world to cause a subversion that would allow you to reenter the world though you would need a means to constantly hide from the Will of the World to avoid rejection."

The words spoken were difficult to understand so it took a while for Elena to grasp them at which point, she didn’t hesitate to test out the efficacy of the idea.

Taking a deep breath, she tapped into the essence of her existence only to find it brimming with a golden radiance that held the keys to the very fabric of reality and an otherworldly darkness that seemed poised to devour all things.

Drawing upon these two energies, Elena tapped into her understanding of Dimensionality and after a moment’s breath, forcibly raised her existence from the 3rd dimension to the 4th dimension, allowing her to gain access to all space-time for a moment.

To avoid killing herself a second time, she didn’t dare to accept all the information surging toward her and only focused on one place; Thebes.

This city served as the birthplace of Elena, doppelganger of Princess Berenice, and as of this moment, served as the target for the birth of Elena of Constellations.

Taking a deep breath, she utilized Imperceptibility and prepared to move in only to pause.

Turning back to find Princess Berenice staring at her, Elena remarked. "I saw him... he was in the capital."

"... I see."

"Are you upset?"

"... Perhaps." Princess Berenice truthfully replied. "I’d lived in self-denial, telling myself that if he truly was the one, he wouldn’t allow myself and all the others to suffer for so long. It’s unfortunate but there’s no changing that truth."

"He still loves you and only wishes to free you from your bondage."

"... Why do you speak for him?"

"Because underneath the terror that he was, Emperor Enoch is just a man trying to save those he cares about."

Princess Berenice’s lips quivered before she muttered. "You should get going, that state of yours won’t last forever."

Realizing the conversation could no longer continue, Elena inquired. "Is there anything you wish to entrust me with?"

"You already know." Pausing for a moment, she added. "Relieve him of his burden, free us from Limbo."

Nodding, Elena replied. "I promise."

With that, she shifted her attention back to Thebes and took a step forward.

The next moment, the doodle world disappeared and about her, the city of Thebes and its familiar sights unfurled before her eyes.

It felt too surreal to be true but it was; she had returned.

If she had a corporeal body, perhaps tears would have streamed down her cheeks at this moment but she didn’t and so she had to be satisfied with feeling overwhelmed with emotions.

But then, her higher dimensional form faded and her Imperceptibility vanished, allowing the Will of the World to detect her presence before swiftly moving to reject her.

A deep sense of dread gripped her ’heart’ as she felt herself being pulled away from Eventide.

However, the next moment, there was a snap and she found herself in Eternal Night, with the pressure from the aether dissipating.

She turned back and joy instantly filled her as she watched him approach, dressed in a gentleman’s suit with a long jacket and a cane with a hat over his head.

Though he looked weak, he moved with a grace befitting a leader.

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