booktalesy Chapter 1842 Fifth Island [1]
Chapter 1842 Fifth Island [1]
Chapter 1842 Fifth Island [1]
Damien prepared to leave without telling anyone. He rarely made contact with the people of the island, though that first woman and the Elder would visit him from time to time.
They never gave him their names, which made it obvious that they wanted to maintain distance as well. It was likely because they knew that he was going to leave the island soon, so they didn't want to get attached.
Nevertheless, those two had helped Damien immensely during his stay here, so he at least wanted to do something for them as well.
He first approached the Elder. He was a quiet man, but also quite considerate. He was the one who showed Damien the most care. Perhaps it was because he viewed everyone here as his grandchildren, but his attitude was unexpectedly warm.
He helped Damien establish his privacy, and every once in a while, he'd bring with him gifts of incense or other similar objects to help Damien calm his mind for training.
The Elder wasn't someone he could directly help. If he tried, he would be refused.
Then, to help him discreetly...
The Elder was content with what he had. His people were happy and they had everything they wanted. If they wanted more, they could just manifest it on their own.
How was Damien to help him?
The most he could do was support the Elder's wish for peace. He didn't want people to come to this island to meaninglessly die anymore.
'Hmm...the island's structure can't be changed, but...'
If more people paid attention to the rituals, then perhaps there would be a change in the death rate.
Damien subtly interfered with the island itself. Through his connection with Nonexistence, he influenced the atmosphere in such a way that those who arrived here would feel more inclined to listen to its population.
He wasn't going to influence their decisions entirely, but he made it so that it was more appealing to follow the Elder and his people for just a few moments than to jump straight into the waters of nothingness.
Essentially, he eliminated the rush that clouded most people's judgements, allowing them to rationally consider their options.
Perhaps his aid would go unnoticed and nothing would change. Perhaps the rituals would eventually become commonplace and more Supremes would rise from the ashes.
Whatever the case, there was no way to know until much later.
Damien did bid the Elder farewell, returning to him a gift before going to find that woman.
He bid her farewell, never learning her name even at the very end, and walked to the shore of the island.
The time had come to move on. Unlike the people who resolved to live their lives in this realm, he had no hesitation in his heart.
With a single step, a step that was so much lighter for him than them, he crossed into his final hurdle.
'The fifth island...'
Damien sighed in admiration.
'...it's definitely the coolest one.'
The beach he stood on was the only undeveloped part of the land he could see. Everything else was a sprawling metroplex of unbelievable proportions. 'But that also means that there are more people here than anywhere else.'
Right, this was the final roadblock before escape. The other islands may have consumed large amounts of experts, but this one was their true grave.
After all, the task on this island was a nightmare for most.
'Simply put, it's about purity.'
To reach a level of purity in one's Nonexistence that met the realm's standards was the only goal. Once that goal was met, the light of Nonexistence would return them to whence they came, ending their time in this realm.
It was easy, right?
Wrong. To Damien, it was a task of extreme simplicity. From the beginning, he had been focused on keeping his Nonexistence pure. Though it didn't meet the island's standard, his starting point was high.
For most, this island was the worst possible place to be.
Because most of the people in this realm absorbed its energy to grow.
Their entire journeys over the past four islands were devalued, because along the way, they ruined their chances to graduate from the fifth island.
The Graveyard of Supremes was this island's nickname.
But, in reality, it was their greatest helper thus far.
Damien knew this from the moment he saw that the task was purification. He went straight into the first city he saw without a single pause in his steps.
'Finally, the end is in sight.'