Chapter 54 - New Epoch
Within the Academy Dean's Chamber, silence settled between Tirius and Janus. They had no rebuttal for NOX's words, for they had always known this harsh reality.
Yet, despite acknowledging the truth he spoke, they could not simply cast aside the Dharma Path they had walked for centuries.
Their path was one of righteousness, a guiding principle that had defined their very existence. Neither a few words nor a single moment of doubt could alter what they were, nor could it change the nature of mortals.
Though they found themselves in agreement with NOX's perspective, they were unwilling to forsake their Dharma.
If every warrior throughout history had adopted NOX's ruthless pragmatism, humanity would have long since crumbled into nothingness. It had endured because of the countless sacrifices made by their forebears.
In the earliest days of humanity, they had been among the weakest races in the universe. Most humans had never even comprehended what lay beyond the stars they gazed upon.
They had once been prey, hunted by more dominant species. They had once been slaves, shackled beneath the rule of others.
It was only through the unyielding sacrifices of their ancestors—those who had fought and bled without expectation of gratitude—that humanity had risen to become one of the most formidable forces in existence.
If their predecessors had thought as NOX did—if they had viewed humanity as nothing more than a race of greedy, self-serving creatures—then none of them would be standing here to debate its worth.
Across from them, NOX's blindfolded gaze shifted between the two.
He could see it clearly—they were not swayed by words alone. Their conviction ran deep, their minds ensnared by the affliction he could only describe as 'Sacrifice Syndrome.'
With a quiet sigh, he abandoned the discussion. There was no point in continuing when their hearts refused to change. Instead, he shifted the topic.
"What do you think the Society will do next?"
He already knew the answer, but he asked anyway. If nothing else, he wanted to leave the Academy without the lingering bitterness of this conversation. He was far too accustomed to the old man's insufferable smugness—this contemplative, crisis-ridden expression did not suit him.
Janus pondered for a moment before responding, "Knowing the Society… their 'usual' course of action would be to send compensation alongside a display of force."
He paused deliberately, watching for NOX's reaction.
NOX immediately caught the implication behind his wording. His tone sharpened as he questioned, "What do you mean by 'usual'? You wouldn't have phrased it that way unless something was different this time."
Janus' deliberate choice of words was never without reason. Something else was at play.
But that should have been impossible.
In the timeline NOX remembered, the Society had followed its predictable pattern—they had sent envoys under the guise of truce negotiations, while simultaneously reminding the Dark Heaven Clan of their place.
Of course, in his previous life, the situation had been vastly different. The Society had not lost any of its high-ranking officials because Tirius had spared the generals, and NOX himself had lacked the power to resist the Dharma Soldiers. Even so, the Society had dispatched an Astral Ruler to offer a so-called 'sincere apology' for their miscalculation.
Only a fool would have believed their words.
The presence of an Astral Ruler had never been about offering remorse—it had been a calculated display of power, a veiled threat meant to remind the Dark Heaven Clan that they were not beyond the Society's reach.
Janus observed NOX with a glint of amusement in his aged eyes, his smug expression partially hidden beneath his white beard.
Finally, an opportunity had presented itself for him to impart his wisdom.
"The Upper Realm is in turmoil due to the sudden change of Epoch," he remarked, his tone deliberately casual, though the weight of his words was anything but.
Behind his blindfold, NOX's frown deepened. A growing sense of unease coiled within him. His voice carried a rare edge as he questioned, "Are you saying that the Universe has abruptly entered a new Epoch?"
The very thought unsettled him.
Janus met his gaze with unwavering certainty. "Yes," he confirmed. "And the Universe may formally announce it today."
NOX's unease sharpened into something closer to dread.
The sudden change of an Epoch was no trivial event.
An Epoch was not merely a measurement of time in human terms—it was a shift so vast that it rendered the lifespans of entire civilizations insignificant. These were periods that stretched across the lifetimes of trillions of universes, each defined by a singular, Reality-altering destiny.
An Epoch was not simply an era; it was a fundamental rewriting of existence itself.
The name given to an Epoch was not arbitrary. It encapsulated its purpose, shaping the fate of all who lived within it. Some marked the ascension of Monarchs that rule Realities, others heralded the rewriting of cosmic laws. Some signaled the cyclical dance of creation and destruction.
For an Epoch to change suddenly was to signify an event so monumental that even the fabric of Reality could not remain the same. It was a moment that forced all beings, from the weakest mortals to the most ancient Cosmic Entities, to adapt—or perish.
And such upheavals were never subtle. They shook the very foundation of existence, often woven into prophecies as old as the Universes themselves.
At this moment, NOX knew without a doubt that every major race, every ancient force that governed the cosmos, would be scrambling to comprehend why the Epoch had changed so abruptly.
The current Epoch, known as Dark Chaos, had barely lasted a billion years—a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of eternity.
For it to end so prematurely could mean only one thing: an event was looming, something vast and unfathomable. A force so great that the Universe itself had been compelled to shift its course.
The significance of an Epochal transition could not be understated. Each shift brought about an unprecedented transformation. Civilizations that had ruled for countless millennia could crumble in an instant, while beings destined for greatness could be born from the ashes.
And for the first time in a long while, even NOX felt uncertain.
This was not a simple change in the flow of time. It was a harbinger of something far greater.
His mind spiraled toward a single thought—was this Heaven's scheme? A calculated move by the unseen force that loomed over all existence? Perhaps it was mere paranoia, but he could not ignore the weight of this coincidence.
He had always known that he walked a razor-thin edge between life and annihilation.
Heaven's will was vast, and its methods unfathomable. If they chose to strike at him, he would have no warning—no moment to prepare. His survival would hinge entirely on whether or not he could uncover the true potential of his Divinity.
He had no delusions about his current strength. Should a crisis orchestrated by Heaven descend upon him now, there would be no chance to resist.
His only hope lay in his Unrecorded Divinity.
He could only pray that it was enough—that it would carry him through this storm until he was strong enough to stand against Heaven itself.
Because he knew one undeniable truth.
Heaven was not something one could fight against—not even those who arrogantly proclaimed themselves Divine Protagonists.
Janus' gaze flickered between Tirius and NOX before he spoke, his tone laced with amusement. "You might need to go shopping—there will be a banquet soon."
NOX and Tirius immediately understood the implications.
The Society would, without a doubt, host a grand event. This was their tradition, their way of smoothing over turmoil, easing tensions, and subtly realigning power dynamics. With the sudden change in Epoch and the Society's internal… 'minor problems,' a banquet was inevitable.
NOX scoffed, unimpressed. A classic move, predictable in its shamelessness. He exhaled, already feeling the weight of what was to come. A bouquet of misery, wrapped in formality.
And soon, he would have to sit through it.
He could only hope no poor fool at the banquet would be itching to jump into the afterlife.
But this was not why he had come.
After a brief silence, NOX finally spoke. "Old man, I wish to drop out of the Academy."
Janus arched a brow. "Are you sure? If you're really that upset, I can tighten security."
NOX shook his head. "It's not about that. As much as I'd love to stay and nurture my golden geese, I have other things to take care of."
As much as it pained him to part ways with his precious Emotion Point-generating geese, his path lay elsewhere.
Most importantly, he had to find his daughters. If he delayed any longer, he wasn't sure he could handle his youngest's tantrums.
His six serpents had regressed with him, yet they spent most of their time asleep while he endured the agony of reliving a billion years in reverse.
Though he never voiced it, that bizarre regression had left scars even he couldn't ignore.
And his daughters… they were the key to his Awakening. The true start of his cultivation journey.
Then there was 'Big Brother' Lucas.
NOX needed to check up on him, maybe find him a few powerful enemies to 'motivate' his growth. Of course, he would take the opportunity to brag about his superior system and rub it in Lucas' face.
After all, as a self-proclaimed Divine Protagonist, NOX was burdened with the glorious purpose of being petty.
Janus, still unwilling to let him go, leaned in with a sly grin. "Are you sure? If you agree to stay, I can find you the most beautiful maid to accompany your needs in the Academy. But of course, you'll have to cover all the costs—including my commission."
NOX immediately took a step back, his expression one of pure disgust. "Are you sure you're a dean and not a pimp?"
Cough!
Janus cleared his throat, adopting a self-righteous tone. "Boy, you dare disrespect me? Do you want to experience the loving lessons I imparted to your uncle?"
Tirius snorted. NOX rolled his eyes.
Neither of them understood how this smug, senile old man had ever become the Academy's dean.
A man who shamelessly extorted his own students—how was this even allowed?
For a while, NOX and Janus bickered, exchanging verbal jabs, but in the end, the old man relented. He agreed—albeit with a heavy heart—to let NOX leave.
Deep down, he knew this was for the best. If NOX stayed, the students and professors would never be able to relax.
Besides, NOX wouldn't stay even if Janus begged all night.
Why?
Because he was a self proclaimed Divine Protagonist, and he refused to waste his divine plot (life) stuck in an Academy, fighting a bunch of overgrown children. He was a billion-year-old entity, for heaven's sake.
The last thing he wanted was for his story to be titled 'Return of the Academy' Ill Genius Who Regressed a Billion Years'.
Or worse—one of those obnoxiously long names that current anime and manga favored, where the title itself was practically a synopsis.
He refused to be the protagonist of such a cringe-worthy tale.
More importantly, he really hoped this wasn't some Dragon Country novel. The thought alone was horrifying.
He had no desire to be reduced to a one-dimensional, overly horny simp whose only purpose was to collect bland female characters and rely on a spoon-feeding system to become powerful.
He would rather cease existing than become one of those 'cold yet kind' protagonists who somehow acted as if they were qualified to rule the world.
A few moments passed as Tirius and Janus resumed their endless bickering, the former still unwilling to abandon his pursuit of avenging his teenage years.
NOX watched them in silence, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
This was the kind of life he wanted.
Peaceful yet fulfilling.
Yes, he could be ruthless—merciless, even. He would not hesitate to take a life if necessary.
But in the end, all he really wanted was to live quietly, away from conflict, away from the world.
A dream.
A dream that could never come true.
Minutes passed, and the Dean's Chamber was anything but peaceful as Tirius' barking echoed through the halls.