Chapter 172

Even if they are both Star.

If ORT and men use the same energy system, then what is the difference?

The Answer is very simple.

That's the essence.

In other words, there is a world of difference in the source of energy.

The Leaf on that towering tree were already visibly withering. Once they all withered, its role as the Sun would be extinguished, and it would no longer be able to fight ORT as it does now.

Throughout his fight with ORT, his expression remained incredibly serious, unwavering even in the face of such a dire situation and the utterly terrible reality before him.

With each passing second, countless Leaf wither, drawing ever closer to death.

With every passing second, countless patches of green are lost, and life slips further away.

Even so, they remained steadfast and continued fighting.

Because--

As the Sun, it cannot simply be extinguished.

Throughout the endless battle with ORT, Favia's consciousness remained perfectly clear. Having endured for 4.6 billion years and transformed into this form, he understood perfectly well what he was fighting for. His spirit remained incredibly resilient, and he was determined to push himself to his limit.

However, unlike the outer layer of the ORT, which is impossible to penetrate, the temperature of the Favia light body dissipates, thus making it susceptible to being breached.

Although it cannot be compared to 4.6 billion years, it still experiences a long, distant, and endless period of time that no other being has ever personally experienced.

How many hundreds or thousands of times has this happened? Favia, who is in Otherworld and has been fighting with ORT, can't remember the exact number, but she has a general impression... It must have been hundreds of millions of times.

A simple physical attack wouldn't pose much of a threat to either of the two Star, but he would continue fighting ORT until the end of time.

The last Leaf wither on the towering tree that represents the 'Sun'.

In that instant, Spider -like tendrils extended from the disc ORT and broke through Favia's light body. Her Flesh, deprived of the Sun's heat protection, began to crystallize from the point of breach.

"... Is the time up?"

He didn't cry out in pain, but just murmured as if nothing had happened.

"..."

Perhaps it was unexpected, or perhaps it was simply a sudden flash of light, but the endless, tentacle-like threads of the emotionless Disc ORT raged and churned across Favia's chest. Then, with this attack, Disc ORT revealed its original mandibles, Spider -like, which bit into Favia's shoulder and began to tear at it.

Whether on the surface of the body, inside the body, or in this Otherworld belonging to ORT.

As the Sun went out, the Crystal Valley, which had previously been sealed off by the combined powers of Venus UO and Pluto UO, began to erode again after losing their obstruction, rapidly spreading along the only entrance from the Otherworld to this Planet.

As ORT tore at Favia's body and attempted to prey on him, he suddenly noticed the incredible thing on his chest.

He immediately realized that the mark on this thing was very similar to something inside his own body, so he raised his Claws, intending to cut off its head directly.

It seems that ultimately, nothing can stop ORT; the Planet is destined for irreversible destruction.

However, to its surprise, it was blocked.

Unaware of the situation, ORT looked up in confusion and discovered that it was the already dead Favia who had raised her hands to defend herself against his attack.

"The Sun will never go out."

He was clearly dead, yet he spoke, and told ORT what was happening before him.

This was clearly the moment when Favia lost the Sun's energy and was killed by ORT.

One second before, Favia realized she was dead, but suddenly found herself lying in complete darkness, where nothing existed except herself.

Favia still remembers what happened to her.

His chest was ripped open, his internal organs were torn to pieces, and his skin and Flesh were bitten off; he still vividly remembers all of this.

This was something I truly felt; I was really killed by ORT, even though I had been somewhat prepared.

That's right, Favia died in that instant.

So—

Why is she still conscious?

It was still breathing; it was hard to understand why it was still alive.

Why didn't he die?

Even if the Sun still possesses power, ORT had already utterly destroyed everything about it as a human being.

True death had indeed befallen the man.

They should have died, but--

Now, this scarred Planet is on the verge of destruction, and people will lose their chance of survival, plunging into an abyss of despair.

Even so, this ray of light still exists—the eternal, dazzling yet hazy Sun.

So,

He wouldn't allow himself to die.

He wouldn't allow himself to fall.

Then, driven by this will, a change suddenly arrived in this dark world—

Sun.

Favia looked at the Sun that had suddenly appeared, as if it were real, or as if it were a mimicry.

After the Age of Gods, the resurrection of the dead belongs to the realm of the gods, while the Fate of extinguishing the Sun and then reigniting it is impossible.

The Sun UO, which can only burn once, will not burn again. This is the rule, the principle, and the truth.

But so what?

If there's a mountain ahead, climb it; if there's a sea ahead, cross it; if there's a god ahead, Godslaying; whatever lies ahead, go and solve it.

He absolutely refused to allow ORT, who had been resurrected by him, to go on his way of destroying the world and humanity.

I am the only Sun UO, and I am the Sun, so I can definitely do it.

So what if it's mimicry? So what if it's fake?

Even without endless power, even if it's just a fictional birth, even if it's fantasy, even if it's fiction, even if it's mimicry.

What is created will never disappear; a dream that is born will be etched into the Universe.

To remain forever in the Universe.

The so-called cycle of birth and death is all meaningless.

Burn everything I have, let my love rewrite everything.

So--

"Burn again!"

His vision blurred as he saw this seemingly eternal presence, the enormous Sun hurtling towards him.

The darkness vanished silently under the Sun's rays, and the Sun trembled violently, splitting open to both sides.

A straight road was revealed, and within it he reached out his hand to the Sun.

"Oh, Sun!"

In that very instant—

The world of Favia has regained its light.

The once completely withered Leaf regained their color in the blink of an eye, and the Crystal Valley Erosion was halted by everything that had been revived.

Although ORT didn't know what had happened, he saw that the Star he had successfully devoured was now rebelling. He couldn't help but roar in anger, his whole body erupting with blue-black light, and he transformed back into a disc, attempting to fight again as before.

However, this time is different.

This time, it's the Sun's full support--

Thus, the surface of the Sun, far away in the Universe, rapidly boiled, and the shared temperature was transferred to Favia, causing her to rise again.

Above that Otherworld known as Crystal Valley, a glorious Sun appeared, tearing apart the gloomy blue-black world and illuminating a pair of solemn and majestic eyes.

It is as majestic as the Sun, and possesses all the splendor and magnificence of the world.

"I am the Sun-- "

Looking down at ORT, who had transformed into a disc to fight again, Favia stared at it and roared with all her might.

"Jupiter, Venus, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto, Mars, Mercury, Spiritron Crystal, and... the Sun!"

At this moment, the will of the Planet responded to its words and arrived, moving upon the giant Sun formed of pure energy, unleashing their Wrath upon another ancient, deceased Star.

"Let us all rage and denounce the passing of the Sun!"

Endless radiance surged forward, cracking the body of the disc-shaped ORT. Then, pure white flames erupted, the intense flames gradually rising, scorching ORT's body and rapidly spreading, causing him to fall uncontrollably to the ground.

At that moment, ORT heard a voice, but it did not originate from the Planet that had called to him; rather, it was a memory he had obtained from analyzing the flesh and blood within this Star during the previous battle.

... Having experienced 4.6 billion years, the physical sensation of this 4.6 billion years suddenly made ORT somewhat numb.

This Star Class being, who had been killed by itself but inexplicably resurrected, remained numb, its Flesh constantly on the verge of death, for 4.6 billion years.

Pushing the limits, burning itself out.

In the instant that ORT was examining the Star's memory, the Star Eater indeed confirmed the enemy's appearance with its own presence.

This is... how...

ORT repaired itself and continued to analyze the record, it suddenly trembled—its first such behavior since its birth.

Favia's blood-stained hand was pulled from ORT's heart.

"I'm here to reclaim what belongs to me."

Favia looked down at ORT, who was still undergoing repairs, and told it, "This is what awakened you."

Then, without any hesitation, he removed the last fragment of the Silver Key that was stuck in the heart of the giant alien visitor.

However, ORT, who was undergoing repairs, put up some resistance, emitting a scorching flash of light at the man.

The flash of light transformed into countless flames that consumed his entire body.

All sounds in the world vanished, and Favia's vision was filled with crimson.

The scorching flames boiled over his entire body, creating a sensation that seemed to burn the whole world...

The man had endured this level of pain countless times during his battle with ORT, from the initial excruciating pain to the current numbness, to the point where it no longer mattered.

"... Although my wrist was burned away, I don't feel any pain at all." Favia could already see the white bone beneath her skin and flesh. "So, it might just be a hallucination, don't you think?"

"..."

Are you perhaps wondering why I don't resist?

He said with a smile,

"If destroying the Planet was your original intention, and you, who arrived due to a miscalculation of the schedule, should have continued to sleep but was awakened prematurely because of me, then it is actually my fault."

Despite being burned all over his body, a long-lost peaceful smile appeared on his face.

"However, perhaps the meaning of my life is to meet you and correct you, visitor from another planet, you whom we call ORT. You can—disappear."

Return to the slumber you should have continued in, or to the dark depths of the world's underbelly, to be physically shattered to pieces.

The Sun raised its hand, its gaze fixed on ORT, and aimed at the weak, flowing central processing system of the Star Eater deep within the rift.

The Sun's final power, gained from burning his soul, enveloped ORT's entire body. The sound of flames burning echoed and diminished among the surrounding Crystal Valley and the Heaven’s Corpse, like a mournful cry from a corner of the night, unlikely to reach anyone's ears.

The energy cycle system has collapsed.

Motion output system crashed.

The immune system is compromised and collapses.

The predation simulation system has crashed.

Remnants of Universe rays, collapse.

A lost Supernova, on the verge of destruction.

Each silent rupture, under Favia's gaze, seemed to unleash a deafening roar.

Then, with a violent explosion, ORT's body turned into fragments and slowly fell to the ground.