The Valghul slowly turns its head and stares at Tom and Mimi while they're both frozen in Time. As you carefully look at the Valghul, you can see a bloodlust behind its rotten eyes.
Does the Valghul plan on killing them? I remember how to use my powers now, but it's been so long… Would I even be able to stop the Valghul if I tried?
The Valghul reads your thoughts and darts its eyes back at you eerily through the corner of its eye. Its demonic voice makes your skin go cold as it glares at you.
" That's an interesting question, Abbadon… Could you stop me? "
Your heart sinks in your chest as you remember that you have to be conscious of what you think about. Your thoughts aren't private when you're in the presence of this demon, and you're frozen as you stare back at it nervously.
Do not think about anything that might provoke it.
You blink and the Valghul disappears.
You panic for a short moment as you attempt to relocate the Valghul, and you see that it's now standing in front of Tom. It pauses for a moment before it speaks.
" I would like nothing more than to kill your friend here… for eons he's been persistent in getting in the way of my Lord. "
The Valghul says as he gets close to Tom's face, staring at him with disdain.
" The other Valghuli have told me stories about their encounters with him. He supposedly made a deal with The One in exchange for power… Did you know that he's the only known being to ever separate a Valghul from its host? "
" No. "
You respond.
" He didn't tell me that. "
The Valghul cracks a crooked smile before it makes a remark.
" It appears that he has a habit of withholding things from you. "
The Valghul then completely changes it's posture and tone as it turns and looks back at you with a friendly demeanor.
" How about we make a deal of our own? I think I've proven myself as more than hospitable to you. With my help, you have now regained important memories; and with them, your powers. I have given you the truth of my Lord, and I've done nothing but reveal the truths that have been hidden from you by those who you have trusted. I even gave you back your book as a sign of good faith. "
You see the Valghul slowly walk back to the booth that you're sitting at as it continues talking to you.
" My Lord wishes for your aid in our fight to restore the balance and natural order of reality. With your help, there will be no more suffering… no more death… no more evil. Reality was once my Lord's domain before The One defiled it with his creation… I only ask that you help us reclaim what's rightfully ours. "
The atmosphere is still as you carefully think about your current situation. The pressure of the Valghul being able to read your mind is stressful as you try to find a way to contemplate this offer without offending it. You fear that it might murder everyone in this room if you exhibit any signs of being its adversary with your thoughts.
You entertain the Valghul's request by asking it a question.
" If I were to join you, what would you ask of me? "
The Valghul lets out an unnatural demonic growl of satisfaction as it answers you.
" You, Abbadon, possess the ability to undo entire multiverses… "
The Valghul begins to loom over you as it speaks, looking down at The Holy Omniverse Transcript in your hand as you're sitting in the booth.
" Combine that with the power of the book, and you'd potentially have the ability to undo the entire Omniverse, restoring reality back to what it once was. "
Skeptical, you inquire further on the Valghul's intentions.
" Why doesn't your Lord do it himself? Surely he's more powerful than I am and can undo the Omniverse just fine with the book on his own. "
You say as you get up from the booth and lean back on the table so you can speak to the Valghul face to face on your feet. The Valghul looks at you intensely with its dark eyes for a moment before it gives you an answer.
" You are correct. My Lord is capable of undoing the entire Omniverse, even without the book. However, as long as The One exists, my Lord's attempts are futile. The existence of The One and my Lord are binary. They are One and Zero. Since they are both equals, one must die in order for the other to truly triumph. "
Your eyes widen as you realize what the Valghul is implying.
" So that's your plan. The None plans on killing The One and you need me to do it? "
You ask the Valghul in disbelief. Finding your reaction amusing, the Valghul grins and elaborates further.
" Assuming you can harness the power of the book, you could potentially face The One at his full power with a chance of actually winning. If you were to combine that power with the power of my Lord, then together we could finally put an end to The One and his Omniverse forever. "
The Valghul puts its cold corpse-like hand on your shoulder and stares deeply into your eyes. Its demonic gaze feels unusually comforting as it speaks.
" Abbadon. This is my Lord's offer to you… The One has killed your daughter and erased the memories of your loved ones from you. My Lord empathizes with you because reality was stolen from him by The One as well. The One is a thief. He's a murderer. A liar. And because he's an all-powerful entity within his domain, he is exempt from facing the consequences for what he does…
However, right now the circumstances are just right. Right now, my Lord has an opportunity to finally make him pay for everything he's done. That's why he has chosen you to be his vessel within The Holy Omniverse. With your power as a Black Trap, the potential of the book, and the power of my Lord combined; you will finally have an opportunity to avenge your lost daughter. Become None with my Lord, and together we can make The One pay for what he did to your Rosie… I ask that you welcome my Lord within you. Become possessed by The None, and when my Lord's power becomes yours, it is a guarantee that The One will die by your hand. "
Your heart begins to ache as you think about Rosie. You're blown away at the fact that she died over a hundred billion years ago. The memories of her feel so recent and clear, and the hatred that you once felt for The One begins to reemerge within you. However, the memories of your second life have drastically changed your mindset on what happened.
You continue to inquire about the Valghul's offer as you're grieving Rosie.
" Avenging my daughter… Is this something that's truly possible? "
The Valghul comes closer to you and wraps its arm around your shoulder, side hugging you gently as it responds.
" Yes, Abbadon. My Lord wants you to avenge Rosie. He believes it to be the right thing to do. "
You look over at Tom and Mimi while they're both still frozen in Time.
" What about Tom and Mimi? "
You ask the Valghul. The Valghul then looks at Tom and Mimi as it responds.
" That Black Trap has been an incredible nuisance for my Lord and his Valghuli. I'm afraid that it is a necessity for him to die before I take you to see my Lord. My Lord wishes for you to kill him as a sign of commitment to our cause. It shouldn't be a hard decision since he directly contributed to Rosie's death as well… As for the child, my Lord believes it best that you leave her here in Moriarch. Taking her with us to The Null will only lead to her demise. "
Suddenly the ring on your finger begins glowing incredibly bright. You can hear a humming sound emanate from it as you look down at your hand. Then in a spontaneous flash of blinding Light, Time unfreezes. You look down at the ring in shock.
Was that supposed to happen?
It takes a moment for Tom to realize what's happened, as the book is gone from his hands, then he immediately looks up at you to see that you have it. Mimi looks over at the Valghul, then she looks at you and makes a remark in a confused tone.
" How'd you get over there so fast, Star Faller? "
Tom, knowing that he's just come out of a time freeze and knowing that he's been weakened, looks at the Valghul with fright. The Valghul growls under its breath with satisfaction as it smiles and observes Tom in this state.
Tom looks back at you and gets ready to speak but he stops himself for a moment as he looks down at the book in your hands, noticing that it's unlocked. You see a tear in Tom's eye as he silently stares at the book, then up at you in realization before he speaks.
" Donny? "
You nod your head and tears begin running down Tom's face. The Valghul interrupts in a hurried manner as it looks at you.
" Well then, Abbadon. You know the deal. Tom has already been put in a weakened state, so this should be incredibly easy for you. Do what you must and we can be on our way… "
Tom speaks up, confused.
" Donny, what's it talking about? You're making deals with the Valghul? "
You immediately divert your thoughts from the subject and respond in a serious demeanor.
" Noeh's dead. The Valghul killed him, and in doing so, it revealed the truth of my past to me. Ariel. Rosie. Anito. I remember how they died. I remember our friendship… I remember my family. "
" Then you should understand why I tried to protect you. Why I withheld certain truths from you. Brother, I didn't wish for you to suffer like you once did. "
Tom says with a look of sorrow.
" I thought I had lost you, Donny. "
Mimi speaks up as if she's on the verge of crying.
" I thought I lost my Papa too… "
You and Tom both snap out of your moment and look at Mimi with concern. Tom then gently hugs Mimi next to him.
" No, Mimi. That's not your Papa. "
Tom says as he stares at the Valghul.
" But it looks just like him! "
Mimi exclaims as she looks up at Tom, pointing at the Valghul.
" Tell him, Papa! Tell him about you and Mama and the rose garden! "
Mimi says as she looks at the Valghul, but it flares its nostrils as it raises its voice and responds.
" I am not your father, child. Your father is gone. "
Mimi shrinks next to Tom in fear, then she begins to silently cry as Tom holds her.
The Valghul then looks at you as if it's losing its patience.
" Go on, Abbadon. Do as my Lord commands. Then we may avenge your daughter. "