The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, but the Cicada Is Also the Oriole

Time rewound slightly, to before Zainjil opened his eyes.

When Big Cat plummeted with tremendous force and smashed through the ground, exposing the Chasm of Desire Experiment Field beneath her feet to everyone present, a void collapse unfolded in the void corresponding to this reality as well.

A pair of eyes filled with stars and spirals quietly opened amid the collapse. Soon, they began observing the void that shimmered with the flowing light of stars.

This was the void, not the starry sky. There should not have been so many dazzling stars here, yet these stars were orderly shifting positions. Each movement seemed to reveal some mystery concerning the universe.

The eyes observed for a moment, then let out a cold snort.

"When necessary, you respect the covenant; when unnecessary, you trample it. Heh, is this the truth you found for the cosmos?"

As the mockery faded, countless stars trembled and converged, linking together according to a wondrous pattern. Before long, a Book of Stars seething with the breath of truth appeared before the eyes.

As soon as he appeared, he smiled calmly. "I thought another Nothingness would come, but I didn't expect it to be you."

The eyes cast him an indifferent glance. Their voice was as cold and biting as the frigid winds of the Abyss.

"He won't pay you any attention, much less tell you the answer you seek. Your scheme has fallen through.

"But I also have a deal I want to make, so bring him out. I know you're connected to him."

"There's only me here. On the path of seeking truth, there's only me as well. I don't know who you're talking about."

The eyes grew even colder, and their tone became even more mocking.

"Do you really think you are omnipotent Truth?

"Without