The Omniscient did not allow the atmosphere to settle for long. Once the acknowledgment of the Splits had embedded itself into reality, he spoke.
"There remains one last agenda. The Split Paths."
A faint murmur traveled through the gathered Splits.
"As of this moment, none of you are Deities within your native world."
That statement hit harder than expected. Their strength was monstrous. Many of them could crush gods from lesser cosmologies without exertion. Their feats would be considered mythological in most universes. But in their world, they were still below the threshold.
"Though your power may rival or exceed Deity-Rank beings across numerous realms, you remain beneath that classification within your origin plane. The Ascension Curse persists. Therefore, a new avenue shall be granted."
The lines etched into the infinite realm began to glow faintly beneath their feet.
"You will each receive an individualized path to divinity. These shall be known as the Split Paths. Each path will be distinct. Each will be tailored to the nature of your existence and your core as a Split. Through these paths, you may defy the Ascension Curse."
That made everyone amazed.
"Understand this clearly. The Split Path will determine the upper limits of your divinity. The further you progress, the greater your authority will become. However, these paths are not without cost. You may die."
They were all silent.
"Your body may fail. Your soul may fracture. Your existence may collapse before reaching completion. The success rate is approximately thirty percent. If you succeed, you will ascend as true Deities. Also, this is not mandatory. No Split is obligated to walk this path. Refusal carries no penalty. If you wish to pursue your Split Path, raise your hand."
There was no hesitation.
Greshina raised hers first. Veneri raised his next, without theatrics. Soon, every single Split rose their hands.
"It is proven, then."
The glowing lines beneath the arena gleamed brightly, creating unseen trajectories across existence.
"All Splits present shall pursue their respective paths to godhood. May fortune align with your progress. This assembly is concluded."
The realm flickered subtly.
"Your bodies and souls cannot endure prolonged exposure to this realm. The strain will intensify if you remain."
The glow beneath their feet began forming circles of light around each Split and their representatives.
"You will now be returned."
Veneri turned before the light could fully envelop him. Dilasyus was already looking at him.
"Will we meet again?"
Dilasyus stepped forward, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Of course we will. I'm just glad I was able to see you again. Get stronger and you will."
Veneri gave a small nod.
"I will."
Around them, the light intensified. The arena began dissolving at its edges. One by one, the Splits and their chosen representatives began to fade.
°°°°°
When the light dissolved and sensation returned to his limbs, Veneri found himself standing before a belvedere suspended over an endless realm of water. Beneath his sandals was perfectly still water. It reflected the sky above like a flawless mirror yet it bore his weight without protest. He did not need to guess where he was.
He was back in the domain of the Time Primordial.
Thyrexxa sat at a low circular table near the edge of the belvedere with porcelain cups arranged with care before her. Steam rose from a slender teapot in slow spirals that never quite dispersed. Plates of delicately shaped cookies rested beside it. She looked exactly as she always had.
"Sit."
A chair formed behind him as if it had always been there. He lowered himself into it without breaking eye contact. The water beneath remained undisturbed, accepting the weight of furniture and existence alike as though such things were trivial.
"I have questions and I want them answered."
Thyrexxa exhaled. She poured tea into his cup first, then her own.
"You have grown comfortable asking questions."
He accepted it and took a sip. The tea was warm but not scalding. He selected a cookie, testing its texture between his fingers before taking a bite.
"You're awfully calm."
"I am calm. It's been a long time since I was accustomed to such a setting."
"Meaning?"
"A conversation not dictated by impending collapse, I guess?"
He leaned back slightly. "Then let's not waste it."
"I cannot answer all of your questions."
"Of course not."
"Some answers would interfere with the plan."
"Your plan."
"Our plan," she corrected softly.
"The Butterfly Effect you mentioned the first time we met. That was the Second Epoch Cycle, wasn't it?"
Her response was immediate.
"No. The Butterfly Effect has already occurred. The Second Epoch Cycle is the primary consequence of that divergence."
He set his cup down carefully. "So what was the butterfly?"
"You."
"..."
"When I transmigrated your soul into Spheraphase, the timeline fractured. As you already know, the universe we occupy now is in its Eighth loop. Seven iterations preceded this one."
He processed that in silence.
"I attempted other solutions before you, as you already know. I chose seven transmigrators from disparate worlds and placed within Vastarael Richinaria's body."
"They failed."
"They failed, yes. Some succumbed to Fate. Some fractured under the weight of expectation. None deviated far enough to destabilize the script."
"And I did."
"You rose beyond the projected trajectory. You fulfilled the objective and altered your Fate."
"Then why offer the Split Paths? Why let me gamble with a thirty percent success rate?"
She did not answer immediately. Instead, she asked:
"Why did you accept?"
"Because I need to become stronger. If the Primordials extend a path to godhood, refusing it would be illogical. Whether I ascend through conventional divinity or become a Timeless, the outcome benefits the universe."
"And yourself," she added.
"And myself."
He reached for another cookie, though his attention remained fixed on her.
"The Krepsunas will not remain dormant indefinitely. I know that much."
A faint exhale escaped her.
"You truly have changed. When I first took your soul, you were indifferent to survival. Your life, your death, it mattered little to you."
"That was before."
"Yes. Now you plan for threats that have not yet emerged. You're calculating beyond your immediate existence."
She set her cup down and, to his visible surprise, inclined her head in a small bow.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"You saved the universe when you entered the First Epoch Cycle. The divergence began there. The Eighth Loop stabilized because of you."
The words were delivered plainly yet their weight was immense.
"I should have rewarded you earlier but you were not formally acknowledged as the Time Split until now."
"And now?"
"Now I may act without violating primordial permission. Give me the Orchestral Violex."
He summoned it. The instrument materialized in a shimmer of golden light. He placed it in her waiting hands. The instant her fingers brushed its surface, she summoned her power onto it.
"This is the Second Time Fragment. You already possess the Mystic Eyes of Time. With the Orchestral Violex, you now hold two of the Five Time Fragments."
She returned the instrument to him.
"The remaining fragments will not reveal themselves easily. This one, in particular, is not yet aligned with you."
"Aligned?"
"It was calibrated to its original wielder, Melody. You read her description, right? She's with the Aeonic Choir."
"And I assume finding them is not simple."
"Nope."
"Why do I need her?"
"Because the Violex's temporal signature does not match yours. If you attempt to wield it in its current state, it will consume an unsustainable amount of your energy. You won't survive extended activation. Remember when you used it with the Heaven twins? It consumed your energy completely and if it wasn't for them, you would have died."
"So I must find the Aeonic Choir, locate Melody and request that she modify the Violex."
"Yes. And until then, you cannot use it."
He leaned back in his chair, staring out across the infinite water.
"You really don't simplify anything, huh?"
A faint smile touched her lips.
"You couldn't even wield it effectively regardless. I'm ensuring you don't destroy yourself through impatience."