Unfathomable Senior

Chapter 776

In the emptiness of space, a peculiar phenomenon unfolded. On a lifeless planet, nothing more than a cold ball of ice, a radiant aura began to emerge. Two figures, the sole living beings in this desolate universe, faced off against each other - one clad in white, the other in black.

It wasn't much of a fight, as the man dressed in black simply cackled. His opponent, Zhang Dong, could barely move as he floated helplessly towards the outstretched hand of the figure in black. The moment the two made contact, a strange phenomenon began to take shape. Zhang Dong's body pulsated with a blinding radiance, illuminating the dead planet and the surrounding space, as if a new sun was being born.

“Yes, I can feel it... I will be able to reach the new step like this. All those billions of years were not in vain. I will finally be able to know, I will know everything!”

The man in black declared triumphantly as Zhang Dong struggled to maintain himself. His body began to collapse into pure energy particles, starting from his hands and feet. Little orbs of light flew towards the man, supposedly his true self, someone who had set a strange plan in motion to ascend to a realm beyond his current existence.

As the merging process unfolded, Zhang Dong found himself bombarded with a torrent of memories and emotions that were not his own. He witnessed the godlike being's struggle within a desolate realm, a place devoid of life and light, where time seemed to lose its meaning. The being had attempted various methods to escape, experimenting with different universes, creating worlds and civilizations, but all efforts proved futile.

The memories delved further back in time, revealing the origin of it all, and Zhang Dong was finally able to piece together the puzzle. One of the earliest memories of this person mirrored his own - they all took place in the same home, his home. His parents were there, along with his siblings, and just like in his own timeline, he decided to leave to be by himself and cut everyone off. However, this version of himself, the Prime Matthew, was somewhat different; he seemed to carry a considerable burden and placed blame on everyone but himself for his current dilemma.

His tale differed a bit; there was no random email that sent him on a journey into a magical world, at least not until much later. His life extended beyond his forties, where he faced a massive setback when his company fired him. The company wasn't going under; they were simply letting go of older personnel to hire younger individuals at lower wages. This marked the moment when Matt's life spiraled out of control.

Unable to rekindle ties with his family, he had no one to turn to for help. He spent time searching for a replacement position, but no one was willing to hire an older, balding man past his prime. His pride prevented him from accepting a position below what he was accustomed to; working at a fast-food restaurant was not something he could bear. Soon, he was burdened with debt and nowhere to go. In a state of depression, hungry and purposeless, he found himself wandering the streets.

His mind was a whirlwind of regrets and animosity toward other people, particularly his family. In a way, he blamed his current situation on them and how they had pushed him into becoming the recluse he had become. However, his life would abruptly change after a fateful encounter with an approaching cement truck. As it spiraled out of control, it collided with the malnourished Matt, taking his life almost instantly. Yet, this was not the end of his story but just the beginning, as he was quickly reborn in a strange place with all of his memories intact.

The plan bore fruit, and he became even stronger than before. However, eventually, it slowed down to a crawl. To address this issue, he devised a peculiar plan. He split his soul into many empty shards and recreated the setting that once produced him - the God Emperor of the Universe. By giving his shards the same background and a close relation to his soul, he hoped to gain better insight and a way to amass power. Thus, the current Matt was created and eventually transformed into Zhang Dong.

Each shard was slightly different from the others, given slightly different starts and systems. Some embarked on their journey early, while others mimicked his entire life. Zhang Dong ended up somewhere in the middle. He had been aware of his revolt from the beginning and had allowed him to gain power. He wasn't the only one to discover the truth, but he was the strongest. With his own peculiar cultivation, he had reached a similar level as the God of this world, and he was the last piece that would complete this elaborate plan.

Zhang Dong, now privy to these memories, felt a strange sense of empathy. The god’s actions, although misguided, stemmed from a deep sense of longing and despair. The god’s attempts to recreate Earth and manipulate the destinies of countless individuals were driven by a desperate need for connection, a connection that he believed could fill the void within him. The bitterness, the loneliness, and the insatiable thirst for knowledge all became a part of him. In that moment, he realized that the godlike being before him wasn't just a villain but a complex and tormented entity.

Yet, even with this newfound understanding, Zhang Dong couldn't accept becoming a mere pawn in the god's grand scheme. The memories of his own life, the people he loved, and the struggles he faced compelled him to resist. With a surge of determination, he attempted to break free from the merging process, exerting his will against the god's control.

“You can't force me to be a part of your twisted plan. I have my own life, my own purpose!”

Zhang Dong's voice echoed through the desolate realm as he fought against the binding force. The godlike being, however, remained steadfast, the intense aura around him growing stronger.

“You misunderstand, my shard. I don't seek to control you for my amusement. You are the missing piece that will grant me the power to break free from this eternal prison. Together, we shall ascend to heights unimaginable!”

“I refuse!”

“Hah, as if you can... huh?”

The old god tried responding mockingly as before but he felt something, something wasn’t right and he wasn’t sure how it was possible...