Important Note for Muslim Readers:
This chapter contains symbolic and fictional scenes occurring in mental realms that do not represent any religious or doctrinal reality.
All entities, forces, and events mentioned are purely metaphorical tools used to express psychological and intellectual struggles within a literary context.
They are not intended to resemble or reflect any of the names or attributes of God Almighty.
We affirm that this work does not contradict Islamic beliefs, and we encourage Muslim readers to approach these scenes as symbolic fiction only.
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chapter 35 --The Gray Sword
In a vast hall,
there was a massive table, surrounded by faces that resembled "Unknown", but at different ages.
They were watching everything that had happened, from the beginning until the moment the majestic man blew up "Unknown".
They laughed at first at his reaction when he saw the duration of the "State's" power.
They enjoyed the emergence of the "Wild Will" within him, and smiled mockingly.
One of them snorted and said:
"If he's going to rely on that in the future… then we better get the popcorn ready now!"
Another looked at him and said:
"So... do you all agree to leave here and remain in Unknown's dream?
I'll ask again: Who agrees? Who objects?"
They all responded:
"Definitely."
And they began discussing enthusiastically how much they would enjoy what would happen with "Unknown".
After a few moments, one of them asked:
"By the way, why did that lunatic blow him up? Unknown didn't do anything wrong, did he?"
The others looked at him—some drowned in confusion, others filled with understanding.
A middle-aged man who looked like "Unknown" said:
"Because you're young... you won't understand what that lunatic did."
Silence fell for a moment, then those among them who knew turned to each other, and one asked:
"Shall we tell them?"
Another replied, lowering his head:
"They will go insane…"
Quickly, the matter turned into heated debates, then a fight between the two groups:
those who knew the truth, and those who didn't.
One of the ignorant group shouted:
"Just because you're stronger... doesn't mean you can do this to us! Let's fight. Your weakest one, against all of us."
One of the knowing (Team 1) objected:
"What kind of injustice is this?! All of you against me?!"
The second team sneered, and one said:
"You filthy old man, dare you lie?! One breath from you could kill us.
But we don't mean full strength—we mean you lower your power and perception to our weakest level… and even then, it's still unfair.
So, you're only allowed to breathe!"
The weakest among Team 1 began protesting and pretending to be weak.
Team 2 members looked at each other,
nodded,
then...
They began merging in a magical way.
The new entity closed its eyes,
then opened them...
They held no emotion.
Only a reflection of countless lines.
This entity began using four of those lines:
A line representing severing.
A line representing the sword.
A line representing skill.
And finally, a line representing the "State".
All of them merged into one line...
A gray, sharp line that sent chills through anyone who saw it.
An overwhelming pressure burst from his body, sweeping across a space beyond comprehension,
a space so vast it was laughable in its magnitude—shattered into uncountable forms.
And all that... was merely a side effect.
The man's form (whom we'll call 3) changed.
His hair became a deep black so intense it made black seem white beside it.
His form became misty,
but his glowing red eyes shone in the darkness, like boiling blood.
He stared at "the weakest member of Team 1" (whom we'll call 4),
his gaze unbearably sharp, as if it exposed a pure intent to destroy.
Team 1 members mocked what they saw.
One of them snapped his finger,
and "3" and "4" were transported to a featureless world...
a symbolic realm without shape, a mental void resembling a thoughtless emptiness without laws.
In that space, the two floated weightlessly,
then mysterious chains descended and bound "4".
"4" looked at the chains and snorted mockingly.
Then a sword appeared in "3's" hand,
colored in shades of gray and deep black—
it represented his current "State".
One of them said: "Begin."
And the battle began.
At first, "3" was farther from "4" than the visible universe,
but to them, the distance felt like it was right beside them.
"3" tapped his fingers on the space,
and began circling "4" at a speed so great,
time itself dissolved.
The present clung to the future, and the past reshaped the moment.
"3" attacked with a speed beyond all known measures—
but it was useless.
"4" snorted, then began breathing...
He inhaled something invisible—
a symbol of mental power beyond matter.
Then exhaled...
A line split through "3's" body,
and he was sliced in two.
...
His two halves returned and fused,
as if nothing had happened.
And the battle... was nowhere near ending.