Reincarnating Into A Fantasy World As An Autonomous Machine Arsenal 94 Log 094: Atonement / The End

"Somnus," the Empress pleaded. "He didn't mean it like that. We are sorry for lying to you, but there is no way you would've done it if you knew the truth. We need this."

Somnus didn't look away from Abaddon and Seraph, as he replied to the Empress. "You never needed this. It is because of your hubris that you had me kill the Heart—because the arrangement you made with the Principle of Control was no longer favorable for you."

Abaddon smiled at Somnus's words. "Aren't humans wonderful? Always wanting more. I always wondered what happens when even everything is not enough?"

"Is that why you are doing this, Abaddon? You want to see what happens?" Somnus asked.

Abaddon shrugged. "It is entertaining, isn't it?"

Somnus nodded. "The part of me that is machine agrees with you."

Abaddon tilted his head. "And the one that is not just hates me? You know, you said it yourself. You said, because you were dead, and in a different world, you couldn't care less what I do—it all seemed like a game to you."

"Because I had no control over what you did," Somnus said. "Don't twist my words."

"It's all the same. No one ever has control. But that is beside the point. You were right—we are dead. You can even call this world Purgatory. It doesn't really matter we do. There is no divine punishment—no consequences for our actions. If the only higher power that had any say in the morality of our actions was the Heart—and it is now dead—then who is to say there is a right or a wrong anymore? In that sense, being mad at me for what I did is pointless. I am what I am, and I do what I do," Abaddon said. "You made me what I am. You told me to do what I do. You said so yourself—Autonomous Machine a.r.s.enals are the mirrors of humanity. The vessels of their hatred."

"What is your point?" Somnus asked.

"You said we should atone. I don't think there is anything we need to atone for," Abaddon replied. "At least, I shouldn't atone for anything. You are responsible for me, as my creator. If you hand over the Reactor, we can call it even—your duty to humanity fulfilled. All sins forgiven."

Somnus thought about Abaddon's words and realized, in a way, he was right. Humanity was responsible for Abaddon. But most of it had already paid the price for that mistake. Even the innocent who had nothing to do with it. Somnus did not suddenly become a philanthropist, or even care that much about morality, he simply wanted to disagree with Abaddon on principle—yet that was becoming more difficult.

"Allowing you to continue this farce does not give me atonement, it makes me your accomplice," Somnus said. "I am not against the idea of giving up the Reactor."

"Then hand it over," Abaddon said.

"I am opposed to the idea of giving it to a world that has you in it," Somnus said.

"Well, that is a problem. I don't want you to give the Reactor to a world that doesn't have me in it," Abaddon said.

"I suppose negotiations have failed," Somnus said.

Abaddon smiled. "Was Seraph not intimidating enough?"

Somnus did not reply. He weighed his options. Without the Heart, he did not know if he could use [Slay Negate] or even [Reform]. In theory, those skills were connected to the mana produced by his Apotheosis Engine, like [Flicker]. But he never properly tested that theory. If he was wrong, he could not stand to suffer even a single hit from either one of them. And there was also the Sword of the Divine—she had most, if not all, of her powers available to her because she worked Divine Magic.

His options were limited. If he tried to kill all of them, he risked dying without accomplis.h.i.+ng anything at all. However, if his goal was to only kill Abaddon, he was certain that he could achieve this goal, but at the cost of his life.

He was fine with that. His life for Abaddon's. It wasn't about punis.h.i.+ng Abaddon for what he did to Humanity, it was about retribution for what Abaddon did to him. For what he did to Aurora.

Somnus half-closed his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, he could not pretend that Aurora's death did not affect him. Even though his mind was almost entirely influenced by the machine, his heart was very much still human. He cursed himself, perhaps for the last time he realized, for having had a human body. Its resistance to damage was non-existent, and even worse, it released chemicals that altered his state of mind. It was so inconvenient. But in a way, he was also glad he had it.

Somnus launched himself forwards, keeping his target within his sights. He could not afford to miss—not that there was a chance that would happen. Even so, it didn't hurt to be careful. If Abaddon moved, Somnus would have to follow. If Abaddon had some divine magic up his sleeve, Somnus had to neutralize it.

He had to kill Abaddon.

Somnus saw Abaddon's expression change—from that mocking, sarcastic, expression to one of surprise and then satisfaction. Why satisfaction? Was it a trap? Did Abaddon expect Somnus to come from this angle?

[Momentum Cancel] failed.

Somnus reflexively used the skill, and its failure only deepened Somnus's suspicion that neither [Slay Negate] or [Reform] would work.

Somnus let his feet fall to the ground, just enough to slow him down enough to change directions, but not enough to give Seraph an easy target. The only time Seraph would have an easy target was once Abaddon was dead.

Abaddon's expression changed again, this time to one of pure focus and concentration. It was a trap! Of course it was. Abaddon was a master at war and deception, even before he was the G.o.d of War. Provoking the enemy to lure them into a trap was a basic tactic.

Only a few footsteps away, Somnus reached back with his hand. He could not rely on [Eclipse] and he could not rely on his spells. He could only rely on his physical properties to kill Abaddon—his raw strength.

Abaddon's eyes narrowed, and he began moving his hand defensively to intercept Somnus's strike. It was too slow. Somnus realized that Abaddon wouldn't be able to defend himself in time.

Somnus thrusted his hand forward, fingers in a claw shape, and made contact with Abaddon's chest. He expected there to be more resistance, but his fingers went through Abaddon's flesh like a hot knife through b.u.t.ter. Why was Abaddon so weak? Was it a trick?

He felt his fingers plow through Abaddon's lung and reach his heart. For the first time, Somnus felt the fear of failure. His fingers trembled as they wrapped around Abaddon's heart. He couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he fumbled now.

But he didn't fumble.

Abaddon's heart fell into Somnus's palm like a lovers falling into an embrace. Then Somnus closed his fist, causing the vital organ to explode.

It was all over in less than half a second. Aristeia and the Empress barely even had a chance to register what was happening.

Somnus closed his eyes. He was satisfied. Vital strikes were always fatal. Without [Slay Negate], Abaddon would die. And if [Slay Negate] still worked, then Somnus had nothing to fear.

Somnus wanted to make sure. With his mind, he reached out to Aeon and asked him to display the last kill notification.

You have slain Abaddon.

A weight fell off Somnus's shoulders, and he accepted his fate. Any moment now, Seraph would blast him away. But that was fine. He had his vengeance. As foolish as it was. As pointless as it was. Somnus wanted to laugh. Wasn't the point of being the Relentless Gears of Extinction pointlessness, anyway?

So foolish.

In his heart, he affirmed that he kept his promise to Aurora, and made his final peace with the world.

… Wait. Abaddon? No t.i.tle? It was just "Abaddon". Not "Abaddon, the G.o.d of War"?

Somnus opened his eyes. It was a trap!

When Somnus turned to face Seraph, and prepare for the incoming annihilation, and hopefully evade it, he was dumbfounded.

Seraph's laser batteries were not even powered on. The turrets weren't even pointing at him.

What was going on?

Somnus looked at Abaddon, as the G.o.d of War stumbled, blood pouring from the curvature of his smiling lips.

Why was he smiling?

"Aeon," Abaddon spoke, voice airy and weak. "Quick... while there is… still time…"

"What... what is the meaning of this?" Somnus asked. "You gave up your divinity?"

Abaddon's smile turned into a grin. His laugh was a b.l.o.o.d.y cough. "... surprised?"

"Why?" Somnus asked, lowering Abaddon to the ground, but not removing his arm from the now-mortal man's chest. Doing so would cause him to instantly bleed out. Actually, Somnus wasn't even sure if his arm was helping at all. He had the medical knowledge, but he just couldn't summon it into his conscious mind at that moment.

"I… lied…" Abaddon said.

Somnus waited for the rest, but it didn't seem to be coming. "You lied? About what? Why did you give up your divinity? Why did you let me kill you?"

"There is… another… way…" Abaddon said. "Aeon… become… my fragment."

[Conditions met. Vessel is suitable. Possessing new host.]

"No!" Somnus shouted. "What conditions? Seraph, do something!"

"Request denied," Seraph rumbled.

"Meon," Abaddon whispered. "Meeting you… on t.i.tan... was—" a coughing fit interrupted Abaddon's words, and the agony of his injury caused him to twist up in pain.

"Don't speak!" Somnus shouted. "Aristeia, help him!"

Why was he even trying to help Abaddon? The entire point was to kill him. Why bother saving him now?

He wanted to know why. That is why.

[Goodbye, Meon.]

Somnus felt the Apotheosis Engine above his head vanish.

"You were… my only…" Abaddon sucked in a deep breath. And then another one. And another one. "I am... sorry… for… lying… and for... Au… Au…"

Somnus stared at Abaddon, dumb-founded.

Realizing that he perhaps only had enough air for one more word, Abaddon spoke, as best he could: "Se… raph!"

Mana began to course through Seraph's body, illuminating the channels etched into the magitech construction of its new armor. But Somnus could no longer sense the flow or magnitude of the mana. He felt deaf, blind and dumb to the world. He relied on Aeon so heavily, and on his [Magic Eyes]—now that both were gone, Somnus felt helpless. Helpless and confused.

"I… I… atoned… for… you," Abaddon whispered. "Live… Meon…"

Abaddon drew in a few more short breaths, each one further apart, before he fell flat against the cold marble floor.

Somnus felt tears on his cheek, and he couldn't figure out why. Wasn't this what he wanted? If so, why did his heart feel so broken then?

Somnus looked to Seraph, but before he could ask anything, he felt Abaddon's body move.

It floated off the ground, and turned to face Seraph.
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"… you are alive?" Somnus asked.

"Negative," Seraph spoke. "Designation Abaddon is decommissioned."

"But…" Somnus pointed at Abaddon's floating body.

"Weapon: Telekinesis. Designation Seraph will extract objective: Apotheosis Engine and become ent.i.ty: Reactor."

"I thought…" Meon began but Seraph interrupted him.

"Farewell, Designation Meon."

Somnus suddenly felt a force lift him up, and throw him out into the stairwell. The door closed itself and the etched runes on it disappeared. That is when the realization struck Somnus. The chamber, and the reason why Seraph was in there—it was the place where the new Heart of the World would be. They never wanted to kill Somnus and steal the Apotheosis Engine from him—they needed to clear the conditions for Aeon to choose Abaddon as his vessel.

Fury overwhelmed Somnus and he launched himself at the door, screaming and punching as hard as he could. "You lied to me! Let me in! You b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! You lied to me from the beginning! Let me make my own choices! Open the door!"

But no matter how hard he screamed or punched, there was no reply. There was no way back in. Still, Somnus punched and kicked until he couldn't even move anymore.

Before he even noticed, the Empress had made her way next to Somnus. She didn't try to stop him or to reason with him. She was just there.

"He… he lied…" Somnus whispered.

The Empress nodded.

"He tricked me…"

The Empress smiled and nodded.

"He went… ahead without me…"

"Mm." The Empress nodded again.

"Why?"

The Empress thought about the question for a moment and then smiled apologetically.

"Because, above all, he didn't want a world without you in it."

******************************* THE END *******************************