Ed slammed Samuer away like a missile, grabbing his priest's robe collar and rubbing him frantically against the ground, quickly reducing Samuer to "half a person."
"A waste of effort."
Samuer, whose skin was almost completely worn down, laughed and said:
"This is just an avatar of mine, just as this is not your true self."
I just want to beat you up.
As Ed spoke, he also saw the hand that had touched Samuer rapidly withering and aging.
He threw Samuer away, then ripped off his own dead arm and tossed it aside, waiting for the vines and other plant tissues to slowly heal and reassemble the arm.
The withered branches behind Samuer were constantly intertwining, like knitting a sweater, gradually outlining his figure again.
"Is this the first time we've met?"
The young man adjusted his glasses, his smile unchanged.
"The second time."
Ed's expression was unpleasant, clearly showing hostility.
He always seemed to be in complete control when facing other enemies.
But when facing Samuer, Ed couldn't quite manage a smile.
I don't know if it's because the other party killed Luxiusi, or because Samuer was once a part of me.
In short, although they had never dealt with each other before, Ed still showed obvious wariness when facing this person.
But if Ed were to ask himself honestly, the biggest reason for his attitude would be --
Vigilance regarding one's own strength.
Even at Low Tier, he had already demonstrated abilities far exceeding those of Low Tier; these abilities were not manifested in strength, but were no different from Authority.
Upon reaching the Middle Tier Supreme, Ed became even more aware of the limits of his abilities.
Therefore, Ed still finds it difficult to remain calm when faced with power that originates from himself.
Because he knows all too well how capable he is.
This feeling is like a scene from an animated film from another world, where when the strongest member of the team turns evil, even if the rest of the team are all tied together, they might not be able to defeat him.
This is the scenario he is facing now.
"Phew~"
Ed calmed himself down and looked at Samuer expressionlessly:
"I sensed your presence back in Fir City as well."
Oh, that time.
Samuer seemed lost in memories:
"Indeed, if you had come any faster, we might have met sooner."
But he immediately shook his head:
"But that won't work. Premature fusion will limit the power ceiling, and then you'll never be able to return to your peak state."
"Integration?"
Ed frowned slightly, feeling somewhat puzzled as well.
"Yes, integration."
Samuer looked at him and said with a smile:
"Life and death are two sides of the same coin. Just like the World Tree, new buds are growing and old leaves are withering every moment. Even without our intervention, new races are constantly being born and old races are constantly becoming extinct."
"I can sense that if we merge now, then reaching the Transcendent Tier is already the pinnacle we can achieve."
"Only if we both reach the Transcendent Tier before fusing can the World Tree truly Descent the world once more!"
"To become the World Tree again?"
Ed looked at Samuer and asked in return:
What is your ultimate goal?
Samuer paused for a moment, then suddenly realized:
"Oh right, I haven't talked to you about this yet."
He paced back and forth a few steps, then looked at Ed and said:
My goal is simple: to destroy this world.
Don't you think there's nothing left in this world worth cherishing?
He appeared genuinely puzzled at that moment:
"Like a damaged work of art, if you can easily buy a newer and better one, why insist on gluing the pieces back together?"
Samuer said seriously:
"When I reach the Transcendent Tier, the countdown to the destruction of this world will be started."
"I don't care how this place is destroyed, whether it's killing all life or letting the Demonic Tide devour everything, in short—"
When everything is destroyed, a new world will be rebuilt on the ruins of the old one.
"There will be new races, new life, that are compatible with the Demonic Tide from birth. For them, the Demonic Tide is not pollution, but nourishment!"
"And in that new world, they will still believe in the great World Tree that created everything, just as they have in the past and as they are now."
"And that new World Tree is me, and it is you."
Samuer looked at Ed:
"Isn't this plan good?"
"Clap, clap, clap."
Ed clapped earnestly. He had only known that Samuer was the remnant of his own consciousness, but now it seemed that he might have also cut off the less intelligent part of himself.
How lucky!
Ed believed that Samuer's theory of crafts had one major problem: that the world was not beyond saving.
If a craft item breaks, of course you should buy a new one, but if it's just covered in dust, can't you just wipe it off?
If a child falls and scrapes their skin, is it really necessary to immediately prepare for a funeral?
Losing a soldier at the start, does that mean we should surrender?
Why make such a fuss?
Although many races have been wiped out by the Demonic Tide, this world is still far from its end.
Willow's mother, a lich, was able to manage to counter the Demonic Tide to a certain extent.
After his resurrection, he was completely unaffected by the Demonic Tide.
Many other races are also trying to adapt to the Demonic Tide.
Although they did survive in agony, this was enough to show that the Demonic Tide was by no means invincible.
So Ed nodded in agreement, inwardly despising his own "defeatist wreckage":
That's a great idea.
"But you know the rules, if you really want my power—"
Ed said with a smile:
"Then come and get it yourself!"
"I will."
Although Samuer's body was repaired, it already showed signs of withering.
Ed knew he had Drain a High Tier understanding of death, and was preparing to go into hiding or run away again.
But things aren't that simple today.
Samuer launched into a tirade of fallacies and heresies, then prepared to flee.
But Ed was not entirely unprepared.
He looked at Samuer seriously and said:
"Don't rush off, I actually have a question for you too."
Samuer was about to turn around when he suddenly stopped, then looked back at him:
"Go ahead and ask."
Ed laughed and asked the question:
Do you know what's outside the 'world'?
Ed noticed Samuer's confusion from the fleeting, subtle expression on his face.
He had a vague suspicion in his mind.
"It's another world, a dead world, and that's where I've returned from."
Samuer said in a detached tone,
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"
"Oh~"
Ed, drawing out the last syllable, completely dispelled his initial wariness:
"No problem, see you again at the Transcendent Tier."
Samuer's lips curled into a smile:
"It seems you're also looking forward to future integration."
No.
Ed smiled nonchalantly:
I will forsake death.