Chapter 53 - Fools!
Tirius, though still irritated by Janus' insufferable presence, immediately took note of the subtle shifts in both Janus' and NOX's expressions.
Why had they suddenly frowned at the exact same moment while looking in the same direction?
Despite being a Rank 9 Awakener, Tirius was unable to perceive the silent end of the Dharma Soldiers and the eerie stillness that overtook their fleets. There had been no disturbances in space, no fluctuations in energy—nothing to indicate what had just transpired.
Curiosity gnawed at him, and unable to suppress it any longer, he directed his gaze toward the distant fleets. Yet, all he saw were massive warships, eerily silent, drifting through the cold void without any signs of activity.
A deep sense of puzzlement settled over him. Why had these fleets been abandoned so suddenly?
Meanwhile, Janus focused his scrutiny on NOX's aura once more, seeking further confirmation of his suspicions.
As he peered beyond the blindfold that concealed NOX's eyes, he caught a glimpse of the terrifying power hidden beneath—Evil Eyes that embodied Fear and Despair.
In that moment, Janus understood something undeniable.
The power wielded by NOX's gaze—this manifestation of Fear and Despair—was not something that could be artificially created. No one could forge such an abomination without first having experienced it themselves.
He did not know what NOX had endured, but one thing was certain: the Human Supreme Society had provoked something beyond reason, a monster that should never have been disturbed.
With a heavy sigh, Janus finally spoke. "Was it truly necessary to go to such extremes?" His gaze remained locked onto NOX's blindfold as he continued, "You do realize that without the Society, humanity will undoubtedly collapse?"
At that moment, the smugness that usually adorned Janus' face faded, replaced by an air of profound wisdom. This was no longer a mere question—it was an attempt to understand NOX's true stance regarding both the Society and humanity as a whole.
NOX, unfazed by the weight of Janus' words, shifted his blindfolded gaze toward him and suddenly asked, "Does this universe need humans? Would existence itself crumble without them?"
Both Janus and Tirius were taken aback by the unexpected question.
What kind of question was that?
Janus' grey eyes immediately turned cold. His voice sharpened as he demanded, "Explain yourself. What exactly do you mean?"
Hearing the change in his tone, NOX chuckled softly.
No matter how knowledgeable this old man was, he was still human at his core. The thought of sacrificing himself for his people was not even a question in his mind—it was an expectation.
NOX had already anticipated this reaction.
Shaking his head slightly, he mused aloud, "Tell me, old man… If it meant saving humanity, would you be willing to offer your life?"
Janus met NOX's gaze without hesitation. His voice was cold and unwavering as he answered, "Yes. Without question."
"Hmm…" NOX nodded slightly before turning his attention toward Tirius. His blindfold tilted ever so slightly as he asked, "Shadow Uncle, what about you?"
Tirius, though uncertain as to why his nephew was asking such a question, still answered truthfully. "If there was no other choice, then yes, I would do the same."
NOX nodded once more, but this time, the crimson glow behind his blindfold flickered with something far more dangerous—anger.
A low, chilling laughter escaped his lips.
"Hahaha… Ha…"
The sound reverberated through the silence, growing heavier with every passing second. His anger spiraled outward as he finally spoke.
"Fools… Utterly pathetic fools."
There was no restraint in his voice. He cursed them openly, without hesitation or concern for how they would take his words.
Both Janus and Tirius remained silent, watching him carefully. They did not react with anger, nor did they refute his claim. Instead, they observed, seeking to understand the reason behind his rage.
NOX himself did not know whether he was the anomaly in this world or if the world itself was flawed. But one thing was clear to him—everyone operated under the assumption that their sacrifice would somehow preserve humanity.
Yet, was that truly the case?
Did this universe, or even the countless universes beyond, truly lack humans?
Did existence itself require their presence?
A quiet chuckle escaped him once more, laced with contempt.
"Humans are truly pathetic. They wander through existence under the delusion that they are the center of creation. And yet, in truth, they are nothing more than parasites—greedy, self-serving beings that consume and destroy without end. This world does not need them. Nor does it lack them."
His blindfolded gaze shifted between Janus and Tirius as he continued. "But fools like you are even more pitiful—clinging to the belief that your deaths will somehow save humanity."
Without sparing Janus another glance, NOX turned his focus entirely onto Tirius. His voice was colder now, sharper, as he posed a question.
"Shadow Uncle… Let me ask you this—if our family were to die, sacrificing themselves honorably for the sake of humanity, leaving only me and Nora behind… do you believe those same humans would respect your sacrifice? Would they protect us? Would they even spare us a single thought?"
Tirius held NOX's gaze, searching for an answer. Deep down, however, he already knew the truth.
Most humans would not care.
In the best-case scenario, they would remain indifferent. In the worst case, they would use the orphans of fallen heroes as nothing more than pawns—tools for their own benefit, or worse, subjects of cruelty and suffering.
His silence was enough of an answer.
NOX let out a quiet snort—not directed at Tirius, but at the very concept of honor that so many clung to.
Honor meant nothing in the face of humanity's greed. To sacrifice oneself for a race that would not hesitate to betray and exploit the ones left behind was the height of foolishness.
At least, that was how NOX saw it.
Then, without warning, his blindfolded gaze shifted back toward Janus. His tone was unreadable as he suddenly asked, "Old man… You have an adopted daughter, don't you?"
At the mention of his daughter, Janus' demeanor shifted instantly.
The weight of his overwhelming aura pressed down on NOX like an unseen force as he spoke, his voice low and commanding. "Boy… You have one chance to make your point."
Yet, despite the oppressive presence bearing down on him, NOX remained completely unfazed. This was nothing more than mental pressure, and his consciousness had already brushed against the realm of Higher Existences. Compared to that, this was insignificant.
"Hmm… My point?" NOX mused, tilting his head slightly. After a moment of thought, he finally said, "If you are so eager to sacrifice yourself for such a race, then in that final moment, think of your daughter."
He paused briefly before delivering his final words to both men.
"Go out once—just once—into the mortal world. Look for yourselves. Observe how humans truly treat the descendants of the fallen heroes. Then decide whether you still wish to entrust your loved ones to their hands."
Perhaps this world had witnessed the rise and fall of too many so-called heroes, or perhaps humanity itself had grown indifferent—numbed by the sheer number of fools who willingly threw their lives away each day. To the mortals of this era, the fallen were nothing remarkable, their sacrifices nothing more than distant echoes lost in time.
In most worlds where the strong ruled over the weak with relentless oppression, it was the so-called legendary 'young masters' who thrived in sheltered greenhouses, protected and nurtured by their families. Yet, in this world, the opposite had become true. It was not the privileged elites who were coddled, but the mortals themselves—shielded from true hardship by the endless sacrifices of those they had long since stopped respecting.
Of course, mortals still feared the powerful clans and sects that loomed over them. But that fear was fleeting. The moment one of these factions collapsed, the same humans who had once trembled before them would miraculously transform their fear into cruelty, preying upon the fallen without hesitation.
And in that moment, a fleeting thought crossed NOX's mind—one that carried a quiet, unsettling weight.
Perhaps, he should erase humanity altogether.