Skullius had seen his fair share of Divine entities that refused to evolve into Deityhood.

According to Serenity, Caxellac, the former Null Devil King, was one such example, as was the Colossus Warmoth. It was almost a given that all four Authorities of the Null Verse rebuked the duties that came with being a Deity, as that would force upon them a needless burden.

…But Boron had taken on those duties, even though he didn't care for creation, for the little things, for mortals. He didn't believe the Primeval Deities cared for the little things either. That seemed like a noble cause only the Aspire to Divine would subscribe to.

<The Carven…> thought Boron. <Ashema…>

He'd made that little Carven, who wasn't even Divine, a General earlier. The passion burning in that little thing's eyes had confounded him. The Carven were created to serve Boron's needs, and weren't even a perfect living species, but in the end… there was something genuine about Ashema that he saw nowhere else.

What did this mean?

He might have glimpsed the answer already, given the way his hand moved, poking at the darkness around him. He was fading, the richness in his Broader Existence whispering away, but his fourth-dimensional powers persisted.

<Once more…>

It was easier than flexing a muscle. The darkness warped and parted, revealing the lower dimensional space that Aigas existed in. Natural laws bent and sharpened to give a clear view of what was happening on Aigas' surface.

Many were gathered. Boron spotted Suzamete at once, speaking to the many mortals around her.

Maybe it was the way her essence was bound to a frail vessel – a Fruit Bearer – but in that moment, he remembered her as she used to be before they both ascended into Deityhood. Suddenly, she wasn't the traitor he thought she was anymore. She was precious and genuine as she'd always been. She was the graceful woman he'd sought to shield and protect against all odds, even if he did end up leaving the Asper to Divine.

Did she even know that she would never see him again? Did she even care? Were even Boron's emotions meaningless now?

He tore his eyes away and searched among the mortals – all Skullius' subordinates – and finally found him.

It took Boron by surprise.

Ashema was also standing among the mortals dressed in peculiar armour. He was not a captive. In fact, he was holding what might have been amicable dialogue, and being tolerated more than was necessary for an enemy.

Skullius was watching as well, taking in what he could from the scene.

"What do you think?" he asked.

Boron didn't answer immediately, even though he already had the answer.

<Legacy?>

"Look beyond that."

Boron paused.

<That's all I have left?>

"It is."

Just as his father left him with a will and an interpretation of the future, he was meant to leave the same for Ashema.

But did he truly accept the new perspective – Skullius' perspective?

Boron reached towards Ashema, who remained completely oblivious. He left the Carven something, passing it through the dimensions.

Shortly after, as his moment finally caught up to him, he turned to the Null Devil King and said his last words.

<I'll trust you to be fair with him – fairer than the Primevals and the Aspire to Divine, at least."

***

Fulgardt couldn't sense much.

His powers didn't transcend dimensions.

Even now, he could only perceive Skullius' Null Life Essence ever so vaguely because of its sheer quantity and quality, his familiarity with it, the power of the Eye Nigerra had given him, and the push from his Voided Death Aspect, Reach. Still, he couldn't tell what was going on beyond his reach – Skullius and Boron's fates.

He remained vigilant, however. His Seeds were firing at full throttle. He had absolute confidence in the fact that nothing Skullius could do would obliterate him in one hit – not with his combination of Seeds active.

"What do you think it was, brother?" he said to the figure latching onto the wall of darkness while keeping a sharp focus on Skullius' thin presence. "What could the weakness I revealed to that brat be? Did I really damn myself?" He grinned at the obscurity before him.

His husk of a brother had never deigned to say anything ever since Fulgardt skinned him of everything. It must have been the agony. Perhaps it drove him insane, rendering him unable to muster a single coherent thought, much less a word.

"I wonder, are the others as loudmouthed I am?" The thought amused Fulgardt. Already, he saw himself moving past Skullius – having defeated him – and towards his goal.

How did the other Fulgardts interpret the message of the Wanderer passed to them? How did that message come to them? Were they as strong as he was?

"I…pray… they…kill you…"

…!

Fulgardt turned, surprised towards the source of the raspy, broken voice.

"They are… supposed to be… like… you… Greedy…selfish…"

Fulgardt barked with laughter. "You're right."

It could be that his brother was correct. However…

"I don't believe I'm lesser than any of them." He cackled. "You won't have to guess for long. I'll take you with me, and you'll have a front row seat to see how it unfolds. You might even get to see the Wanderer, if you don't decide to croak on me before then."

"I'm afraid that's not going to happen."

At this voice, Fulgardt didn't even bother to turn.

Skullius had slipped back into the casual reality without him knowing or sensing it. It was bizarre on so many fronts.

Slowly, Fulgardt faced the Null Devil King. The bastard's overwhelming authority was undeniable. He was a freak of nature. He might have had a standing on the same level as the Primeval Deities.

"That makes two of you," said the Immoral. "There were those who doubted me back when I began my ascent, too. Fortune favors the persistent."

"And death comes for all, even insurgents like you," retorted Skullius.