The sight of Konrad's blade cleaving its way toward his neck gave Regretless no time to idle, and he made his move.
"Shifting Void Step!"
Demonstrating a mastery of the Shifting Void Step that left Sakra in shame, Regretless dispersed his presence to, just like a Nothingness Supreme, exist in every point of space, thereby achieving quasi-Omnipresence.
But if to others that ability proved an insurmountable headache, before Konrad, it held little meaning.
"God Executing Immortal Art, First Form: Omnidimensional Slash."
Konrad whispered as he swept his sword in a horizontal slash, unleashing a formless sword force that hacked through all corners, spots and things in space!
*Slash*
"Innate Skill: Absolute Defense!"
Regretless attempted to raise his strongest defense skill. Alas, no matter how much power he released, the suppression returned, wearing down his bloodline strength and preventing him from resisting the blow!
Regretless' multi-existences collapsed, and though the blow wasn't enough to claim his life, he flew backward, restraining a blood spurt as his internal organs suffered a dreadful gash.
Again, Celestial Slaughter made his move, vanishing to appear before Konrad and block further offensive. Unlike Regretless, his Void Dragon Bloodline made him completely free, unable to be shackled by the rules of a multiverse. Even if Konrad was the sovereign ruler of this verse, he couldn't use his authority to suppress Celestial Slaughter.
"Konrad, Konrad, what need is there to break the balance? I believe it's time we talk."
Celestial Slaughter began while his forces gathered to surround Konrad, befuddling the shackled Regretless who couldn't comprehend why suddenly, Celestial Slaughter took his defense.
"Regretless, do not misunderstand, I merely wish to leave this place with substantial gains. To that end, I need the three of us alive."
Celestial Slaughter pursued, and though Konrad inwardly sneered, he let nothing transpire on his face.
"Oh? And what gains would those be?"
Konrad inquired, and in response, Celestial Slaughter waved his hand, causing a miniature map of the Omniverse to appear within the sky.
"The three of us stand at the pinnacle of the Omniverse. Unmatched by anyone besides ourselves. However, we're not quite equal.
Regretless, though in terms of pure strength you surpass us both, you lack an impregnable stronghold. Just like you've just seen, in Konrad's domain, your life is hard to preserve.
Konrad, I must admit that with strength alone, I can not suppress you. After all, you're not only All-Transcendent, but possess a Firmament Bloodline and 60 broken Forbidden Locks. Although your cultivation is still deficient, if it came to blows my odds aren't that favorable. Alas, I am invulnerable, free and unfettered.
You can't kill me. You can't bind me. What use is there in being stronger?"
Celestial Slaughter pursued, before motioning toward his army.
"Meanwhile, though I possess the strongest military force of all times, my own powers could use an upgrade. In one way or another, we could all use upgrades. We all need time to patch our deficiencies and fight for the eternal crown.
If you insist on killing Regretless, I can only join hands with him, and assist him in suppressing you. Instead, if you choose to take a step back, if we all choose to negotiate, we can give ourselves the time we need to reach our peak."
As his words echoed, Celestial Slaughter indexed the map on which 13 points glittered.
"Let's split the Omniverse's 13 Multiverses. I take the upper five. Konrad takes the lower six. Regretless is left with two and the Firmament he already controls. I believe that is a fair bargain."
Celestial Slaughter offered. And indeed, he was right. Although following Konrad's bloodline breakthrough, Regretless could no longer pluck resources from the Firmament, his reserves from trillions of years remained astonishing. If he was determined to use them to train new forces, raising legions of Primordials was entirely possible. The extra two verses were nothing but consolation prizes.
As for Celestial Slaughter taking five versus six for Konrad, this was but a concession made to showcase his intent to see the negotiations reach a fruitful point.
"If you both agree, we can sign a 1,500 years peace treaty. For existences of our level, 1,500 years will pass in the blink of an eye. But I believe it is a reasonable amount of time to make our final moves.
Regretless, you can take that time to ensure the means of my destruction. Likewise, Konrad, you can use it to grow at the fastest pace. Knowing you, endless surprises await.
As for me, I shall also try my hardest. In 1,500 years, let us meet in the Firmament for the final clash and determine once and for all, the ownership of the Omniverse."
A beautiful load of bullshit.
With 1,500 years of time, Konrad didn't doubt that with all his means, his cultivation would reach a dreadful level, he'd become a High Supreme, obtain the third Forbidden Physique and break all 30 locks, thereby making his strength reach Almighty level.
Before, he believed that would be enough to thwart Celestial Slaughter's best efforts. After all, although the old goat became High Supreme through Nothingness and All-Transcendence, achieving the same in Infiniteness wasn't a matter of 1,500 years.
And even if he could, it would be an Almighty vs Almighty battle. With all his tricks, Konrad didn't fear defeat. At least, that's what he previously thought.
Now, he was starting to revise that thought. Celestial Slaughter was no man to underestimate his foes. If he dared give 1,500 years, he possessed full confidence in his victory.
In fact, as his gaze went between Celestial Slaughter and Regretless, Konrad suspected that time didn't matter much at all. It was yet again another distraction. Worse, although choosing the Firmament as the final battleground was intuitively correct, it was like an invitation to let Konrad seize the Firmament's Throne.
Another lure.
"But the problem is that Regretless now knows I desperately want his death. If only to buy himself time to escape and regroup, he will agree. And if I try to convince him otherwise, it will have the opposite effect. That being the case, I can't shirk from the treaty.
Plan A has also been nipped in the bud.
Hateful."
Why did Konrad privilege slaying Regretless over Celestial Slaughter?
Fear.
He feared a replay of the past, that just like with Adelar and Olrich, Regretless was nothing but a pig being fattened for absorption.
That the ultimate point of Regretless' existence was to serve as the final stepping stone to their father's eternal dominion.
That no matter how powerful Regretless became, Celestial Slaughter had the means to make him surrender. Highest Dragon not being on the scene undoubtedly played a role in that scheme.
But though the scene was similar, the stakes were different. Celestial Slaughter wasn't Olrich, and Regretless not Adelar. If he truly managed to complete that feat, the implications were dreadful.
Initially, to avoid calamities, Konrad purposely lowered the might of his Negation abilities to cheat Celestial Slaughter—all so that he could rig the Nirvana Dust Crown at a critical time. So long as Celestial Slaughter made Highest Dragon or Regretless' mother appear, he would combine the Negation with his Realm Lordship to snatch them alongside the Void Army. But not only did the devious old goat not, he even absorbed the crown. That being the case, plan A sank.
And although Konrad still had a plan B and C, those were supremely dangerous. Especially C. Unless absolutely necessary, he didn't wish to rely on them.
Therefore, Regretless had to die!
Alas, for now, he could only live.
"I agree."
Regretless approved, leaving Konrad no other choice.
"So do I."
Seeing them cave in, Celestial Slaughter nodded in approval, and without further delay the three drafted the contract—and in their blood and soul, split the Omniverse.
