Chapter 46: Chapter 46
Watts’ mind raced as the shockwaves of their battle rattled the nest. His future self was relentless, every attack feeling like a critique of his very soul.
The egg pulsed in the background, its energy growing unstable. Each second dragged him closer to disaster—not just for himself but for this entire world.
And then it hit him.
Fighting wasn’t the answer. This wasn’t a test of strength. The wolf, the voice in the nest, even his duplicate—they were all trying to tell him something.
The egg wasn’t just a keystone of power; it was tied to the essence of this world. To take it by force would only lead to ruin.
It was like getting a car and removing its engine. The car would not work anymore unless you replaced the engine.
From the beginning, he had been warned about the price of power, but in any case, it was the price of force—using power to force a situation to unfold the way you want it to, without following the wheels of fate.
Watts disengaged abruptly, leaping back from his duplicate.
His metallic wings unfolded as he reverted to his normal form, but instead of preparing for another strike, he stood still, raising his arms in a gesture of surrender.
His chest heaved as he stared into the eyes of his future self.
"I get it, okay?" Watts said, his voice steady despite the chaos. "This isn’t about what I can take. It’s about what I’m willing to give."
His duplicate froze, its expression darkening with a storm of emotions—confusion, anger, and something that resembled reluctant admiration.
"You think surrender will save you?" it growled, its voice jagged with doubt. "Do you truly believe this world will reward humility, Watts? Or will it devour you for your weakness?"
Watts didn’t give it time to argue as the energy surrounding the egg seemed to calm slightly, as if the nest itself was listening.
He took a slow step forward, his eyes never leaving the egg. Then, carefully, he circled around his future self to stand before it.
"This isn’t my world. It’s not my place to conquer it. If this egg is so important, then it deserves a guardian who understands that."
He knelt before the egg, the sharp edges of the crystal tendrils brushing against his metallic arms. His voice softened, but it carried the weight of conviction.
"I will take the egg and protect it, but I will also give something in return."
The glowing tendrils hesitated, their movements slowing as if they were considering his words.
The nest seemed to hum with a different frequency, one that resonated deep within him.
His future self stepped forward, the hostility in its expression replaced by something else—approval, maybe even relief. It spoke, its tone quieter now.
"You’ve finally realized. The test was never about strength or power. It was about intention."
He had known from the moment he reached this planet that he had to get this egg, every cell in him knew it.
The sole reason as to why his luck brought him here was because of this egg, whatever it was.
And so he had to make sure to obtain it no matter what.
Watts reached out toward the egg, not to grab it, but to touch it gently. And this time, the tendrils didn’t resist.
As his hand connected with the egg’s surface, a surge of energy coursed through him—not violent, but warm, like the embrace of an old friend.
The swirling patterns on the egg grew still, locking into perfect harmony.
A voice echoed in his mind once more, the same ancient and maternal tone as before.
"Well, that was too fast. Anyway, back to business. What are you willing to give?"
"How about life force?" Watts replied.
Because for the time he spent studying life force, he knew it was a powerful force of nature that governed life itself.
The voice hummed softly in his mind, a sound both soothing and foreboding, as if considering his audacious offer.
"You speak with conviction, but do you understand the magnitude of what you offer? To give life force is to give your essence. It is not just energy—it is memory, potential, existence itself."
Watts knew the risks. If someone’s life force was reduced too much, the mind would subconsciously replace it with memories, talents, or existence itself.
"I understand. I’m not asking for shortcuts. If the cost of protecting this egg is a piece of my very being, then so be it." Of course, he knew he had infinite life force.
The maternal voice paused, as if scrutinizing him, its tone shifting to one of faint amusement. "Bold words, child. Very well. The process is simple yet costly. You must willingly open your physique and soul to the egg. It will draw what it needs—no more, no less."
Watts nodded, kneeling again. He placed his hand on the egg’s surface, its warmth growing more intense as it seemed to pulse with the rhythm of his heartbeat.
"Do it."
The moment the words left his mouth, the egg responded.
Its glowing patterns began to ripple, expanding outward, and the crystal tendrils wrapped around his arms, locking him in place. The hum of the nest intensified, reaching a near-deafening crescendo.
Then it began.
A sharp, searing pull radiated from his chest, as if a thousand invisible threads were being ripped from within him.
But that was it—just discomfort. And then, the process was over. After all he was immortal, he had infinite life force.
And no matter how much the world would take, it wouldn’t affect him in the slightest. Unknowingly, Watts had surprised the world’s core.
It had never encountered someone with this kind of vast life force.
The moment the process finished, the tendrils unraveled, retracting into the nest.
The egg floated into the air and began to shrink, its massive form condensing into a palm-sized crystal that settled softly into Watts’ hand.
The energy around them stilled, and for the first time since his arrival, the world felt calm.
His duplicate stepped closer, its form beginning to flicker. "You’ve changed the path. What happens next is up to you. Just remember—your choices ripple farther than you can see."
And with that, the duplicate dissolved into light, leaving Watts alone in the nest.
He stared at the egg in his hand, its weight both literal and metaphorical.
Watts rose slowly, his legs shaky but steady.
The urgency that had driven him here was gone, replaced by something deeper—a quiet resolve tempered by the weight of what he had just endured.
The egg pulsed gently in his hand, its warmth a silent reminder of his sacrifice.
He had come seeking power, but he had found something far more valuable: understanding.
But right now, it didn’t matter. All he had in mind was to check all the information about this egg.
The egg that even his ridiculous luck responded to. An egg holding together a world. An egg of great importance.
"System, analyze it," Watts muttered.
[Processing...]
[STATUS PANEL]
Name: Not given
Race: Primordial Bird
Existence Level: Level 1
ABILITIES:
Primordial Fire: Wields fire that burns physically and spiritually, capable of cleansing curses or annihilating armies
.Aether Winds: Generates winds that can heal or devastate, disrupt magic, or even alter gravity.
Celestial Light and Shadow: Controls light and darkness on a cosmic scale, creating illusions or radiant destruction.
GROWTH:
Level: Unhatched
Age: 0
Traits:
Growth Through Experience: Evolves through challenges and threats, amplifying strength or gaining new powers.
Memory of Creation: Gains insights into universal truths as it matures.
Watts sat cross-legged in the nest, smiling brightly after reading the panel.
Apparently, it was a bird-type beast with mysterious origins. Perfect.
But suddenly, something inside him shifted. He felt as if something crucial was changing.
His gaze snapped to the egg, but it had nothing to do with the sensation wracking his body.
"Aaaargh!" A heart-wrenching scream escaped his mouth as pain assaulted him.
System notifications blinked before his eyes, but he couldn’t focus on them.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[It has been a month since the start of the trial...]
[Conditions have been met...]
[The Creator’s ability is being randomly replaced...]
[Looking for random affinity...]
[Replacement found: DEATH]
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