Bab 279: No Choice
'Well, I guess there are still a couple of things to deal with...'
Turning his attention to Makima and Kishibe, who stood at the edge of the battlefield, shock evident on their faces, Lorien couldn't help but pause for a moment, uncertain of what to do next
'The battle between me and the 'World Will' just ended, and I don't have much energy left to deal with any more attacks.'
'At most, I can still block once more attack without resorting to the treasure orb.'
'Considering this, despite the usefulness of Makima's [Control] Law, I can't do anything to her right now.'
'If I attack her, I am 100% certain that the will of the world will go all out to kill me and won't hold anything back this time.'
'After all, taking the Law of one of its most important chess pieces is akin to pissing on its bottom line.'
'However, it's not like I don't have any other options.'
His eyes narrowing slightly, a wicked smile slowly manifested itself on Lorien's face as he began plotting anew.
'To obtain the [Control] Law or any other Law, I don't necessarily have to forcibly seize it; I think that I can also opt for a subtler approach.'
'Previously, that might not have been feasible as I wasn't familiar with its composition, but now, it's not that difficult.'
'All I have to do is make her practice my dream path and I'll simply gain the Law as feedback.'
'And while it might now be instantaneous feedback, it is at least quite safe.'
'So, all that's left now is convincing them.'
'However, before that...'
Turning his gaze toward the aftermath of the previous battle, Lorien surveyed the widespread devastation as a sense of profound helplessness washed over him.
'This literally looks like a warzone carpet bombed by intercontinental missiles.'
'No one would come into such a place; I should fix it at least.'
'It's just that I don't have much energy left, but it should be enough.'
'Moreover, this is somewhat worth it as this would also act as a show of strength and a way to stabilize future dream path walkers.'
'After all, not many would decide to walk a path whose creator got suppressed.'
'So, to make my future plans go smoother, I have to keep a good external image.'
Having reached such a conclusion, Lorien wasted no time and dove head-first into action.
First, he chose to dissolve the protective barrier cloaking his domain as he deemed it no longer necessary and simply a waste of time.
After all, he could instantly reinstate it any time he wanted, furthermore, redirecting the expended energy towards fighting back against the world's will to reclaim lost territory held greater strategic value.
So, making his decision, Lorien swiftly put it into action causing the multi-colored protective barrier to dissolve like ice cream melting under the sun's rays, revealing what remained of his domain to the world.
*Bzzz*
*Swish*
As a consequence, at the center of this shattered battlefield, a lost paradise suddenly appeared.
The towering golden tree at the heart of it all, the swirling sun and moon, the simulated starry skies, and the enchanting golden flowers—all remained unchanged, merely shrinking in size.
From a distance, the scene resembled the deceptive mirages that bedevil weary travelers in the desert.
Yet, in a sudden shift, as Lorien used his power, golden flowers, and lush trees erupted in every direction, swiftly engulfing the remnants of the prior conflict like a tidal wave, obliterating all traces in their wake.
This subtle yet potent act of reality warping extended in every direction, gradually reshaping the world inch by inch, advancing ever so persistently toward the edge of the battlefield.
'Sigh, this is all I could do for now.'
'I can at most fix this battlefield, however, the extent of my power remains primarily confined within this 1km domain.'
'The most I can achieve is a momentary breach of the world's blockade, albeit for a brief moment, it's just that this requires more energy.'
'Nevertheless, for the present moment, this should suffice.'
Shaking his head slightly, Lorien closed his eyes and persisted in the process, maintaining his seated position with crossed legs, the sword's sheath resting on his lap.
At the very least, by utilizing the sheath, he could replenish his energy reserves while simultaneously exerting his power.
That way, he won't be in this vulnerable state for long, and he could soon begin fighting back.
That way, he wouldn't remain in this vulnerable state for long, so he could soon commence his counterattack.
-
Meanwhile, just as these events unfolded, Makima and Kishibe swiftly regained their composure.
Right now, their state didn't seem that different from how it was when they just got here.
Nevertheless, despite how impressive this was, it was hardly surprising given their personalities and past experiences.
Frankly, had the previous battle not resulted in such unprecedented destruction, Lorien had doubts whether they would have reacted at all to the current situation.
Yet, it appeared that their astonishment and bewilderment were far from being over as they soon bore witness to the breathtaking transformation of the devastated battlefield into a verdant paradise right before their very eyes.
"..."
"..."
Looking the golden flowers blooming in every direction, Makima gracefully lowered herself and plucked one from the profusion, bringing it to her nose to inhale its fragrance.
Doing so, she spun the flower between her fingers, all the while speaking with Kishibe.
"It appears that it is over."
"So it seems."
"So, what do you think? Shall we press onward toward the center, or would it be wiser to retreat?"
Upon hearing Makima's inquiry, Kishibe fell into a momentary silence, his gaze shifting from the flower in Makima's hand to the lush expanse surrounding them.
'It seems that we are still within striking range.'
Contemplating their situation and recalling the immediate hostility they faced upon their arrival on the battlefield, Kishibe shook his head thoughtfully, then responded calmly while taking a sip from his silver flask.
"I don't think that we have a choice."
--Note--
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---Author---
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