After multiple hours inside the white room, their talk came to an end. Lucan stood up as he said, "Well, Dad, now it's time... I have to—"
He was interrupted by his dad. "Yes, I know, I know. I won't stop you! Goodbye for now!"
He forcibly held back his feelings, as he didn't want to obstruct him—he was already facing multiple problems.
So he decided not to burden him further for his own selfishness.
His face had a satisfied expression, with his lips curled up. Lucan nodded his head. "Don't worry, whenever you miss me, the Golden Butterfly will help us!"
His dad replied, "Make sure you take good care of the Golden Butterfly, though! From what you've said about your entire journey...
Only this butterfly has been loyal and caring toward you! Hehe!
It's a pity—if it were a real girl, this moment would make your mom go crazy!"
Lucan blushed as he snorted, "Ah! Please stop this, I can't bear this feeling."
His dad patted him as he laughed, "Haha! I just did that to see your reaction! Please turn your face red more often—it's fun to watch!"
Lucan replied, "Fun?! Yeah, probably for you, but not for me! Hmph!"
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned quiet as both of them stared at each other.
Lucan grinned as he waved his hand, saying farewell. His dad was smiling, but tears rolled down his eyes.
They were not tears of grief, but of happiness.
He shouted, "Alright! But the promise—don't forget it! No matter what happens, you must reach your goal and find it!"
Lucan replied, "Haha! I won't forget it! I will definitely find it—find the truth beyond everything!"
Both of them left the white room as the Golden Butterfly flew up. It was already nighttime.
It stopped for a moment to take a look at Lucan's dad, who was still smiling with deep satisfaction.
Seeing him in this state was what finally made it decide to leave Earth! It thought, *"Is my gift really worth that much to him? I feel like... it isn't enough."*
It flew faster toward Lucan, pondering these questions.
In the Eternal Abyss of Life and Death, it was daytime. The sun lit up the entire place, but it remained the same void.
Completely empty.
Lucan grinned, "Hehe! Golden Butterfly... my journey would have been better if everyone I met were like you! But now I feel lonely..."
He suddenly felt a change as his throat went dry and sweat appeared on his forehead.
He felt his lifespan decrease far faster than ever before—even according to his calculations, the amount of time...
When he stayed in the same place, his lifespan was supposed to decrease slowly.
However, it had only been a few hours, yet he had lost months of his lifespan.
He fell into deep thought as he started walking. After he walked a bit farther from the area...
He noticed that his lifespan started to increase again.
He then remembered the words of Org 1000: *"Life Crystal and Death Crystal!"*
He realized that all this time, he had been within the range of the Death Crystal, which was why his lifespan was decreasing.
After this realization hit him, he flew away toward his spaceship. This area was far away from the Death Crystal's range.
After he left, a hoarse voice spoke, "Hmm! What an interesting creature... It knows about me and this place! Haha! This is going to be interesting..."
When he reached his spaceship, he found the Fate guy, who was still under Org 1000's control.
Org 1000 spoke, "Lucan! What happened? Why do you look so tired and exhausted?..."
Lucan replied, "Sigh! Can you shut that mouth of yours? You do everything except what needs to be done! Did that Universal Being give you any messages?"
Org 1000 shook his head. "No, it seems like it will take a longer time!"
Lucan asked, "And... can the Life Crystal or Death Crystal be refined and used for something? Just curious!"
Org 1000 swallowed hard as he spoke, "It's just curiosity, right?... You haven't come into contact with any of them, right?"
Lucan grinned, "Hehe! Rest assured, I am just asking to learn more about the crystals!"
Internally, he thought, *"Hmm! From his reaction, it definitely means something bad would happen. But I haven't come into direct contact with the Death Crystal yet! So this situation could go either way... AMAZING! I CAN GAIN SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE EITHER WAY!"*
Org 1000 spoke, "Unlike other crystals, you can't refine them or use them! And for the most part, these two crystals will never even pay attention to you...
Unless the Fate Crystal has written it so. But the Death Crystal loves seeing people die.
And the Life Crystal—"
Lucan interrupted, "It likes seeing people live? Hmm! That's just boring."
Org 1000 smirked in a sinister tone, "The Life Crystal loves to see you...
Dying cruelly, with intense suffering and pain!
Now do you get it, Lucan? Do you see how dangerous these two crystals are? Haha! You must be trembling with fear right now, aren't you?"
As his gaze shifted past Lucan, Lucan's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
Lucan said, "Awesome! This is interesting—noting it down, too.
Tell me more, Org 1000.
I want to gain more knowledge! More insights! More wisdom!
Because they will help me reach my goal!"
Org 1000 snorted, "You... are definitely insane, kid.
Goal, goal, goal.
What the heck is even your goal? What could it possibly be?
Eternal life? Wealth? Love? Power? Revenge?..."
Lucan grinned, "None of those. Mine isn't a normal goal you can easily imagine.
Even if I gave you clues, you would never guess it, because it is something with true worth.
Not eternal life! That is just living forever out of the fear of death.
Not wealth! That is merely a pile of resources used just to show off.
Not love! That is an illusion that traps you and strips away your freedom.
Not power! That is just having the strength to dominate everything—what use is that, except for pride?
And revenge! Hehe! That is just an illogical emotional reaction to satisfy your heart.
My true goal is finding the edge of space and going beyond it!
It is finding the truth beyond everything! What lies beyond galaxies, universes, multiverses...
What is the truth that created all of us?
Some call it God! Some call it Science!
But none of them have actually seen it—those are just assumptions made due to a lack of knowledge.
Once I find it... Hahaha!"
Org 1000 was stunned as he stared at Lucan, blinking repeatedly. He asked, "But what if... there is no end?
Your whole journey will be incomplete. Your whole life will be worthless."
Lucan laughed, "Notice one thing?
You said 'WHAT IF!' That is also just an assumption.
Okay, now let me ask: what if there *is* an end? What if my journey turns out to be complete? What if my whole life was worth it?
Answer me!"
Org 1000 was speechless. Facing such ambitions, he felt ashamed to even speak anymore.
A mere 17-year-old kid had thoughts like these, while he—and most others—just lived for the sake of living.
Org 1000 laughed, "Alright, kid. You're not bad for your age. Let me join your crew!"
Lucan grinned, "Not possible! Prove your worth first! What use would you be to me?"
Org 1000 nodded. "Good! As expected from someone like you. I will prove my worth to you! But how should I prove it?
In terms of strength? Intelligence? Or what? Tell me!"
Lucan pointed at him and said, "Ask yourself and tell me: what is your true goal, like mine? Deep within your heart...
It will be carved permanently! If you have one, you can join me! Hehe!"
Org 1000 thought, *"That's right... I have always lived under that Universal Being and called him my master. But is that what I truly wanted? What is my true goal? What do I want to achieve in my life? Answer me, my true self!"*
Time continued to pass, and hours flew by. Even the Universal Being tried to contact him, but he ignored it.
It was secondary compared to finding himself.
He remembered his past, but he instantly brushed it aside.
After pondering for a while, he suddenly opened his eyes and grinned.
He said, "Lucan! I have my answer, hahaha!"
Lucan replied, "Sigh! Grinning is my style—so is your goal just to imitate me? Too bad!"