GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?

The cloud began to boil and seethe as more forces of destruction were pulled into it. It became so powerful that the rings began to affect reality itself. Space and time around the battlefield began to ripple like the waves on an ocean.

Only the Sovereign level equipment was left standing by the time he was halfway done with his introduction. But those too disappeared as the cloud expanded into an explosion of light that ripped the fabric of reality to shred. The ground and the sky disappeared into a zone of all-encompassing darkness. Everyone in the Virut plane knew at that moment that something bad had occurred because the entire plane trembled with the exertion needed to contain the explosion.

Destructive void energy poured into the plane from the ruptured barrier of space-time. The circle of destruction began to spread to the areas beyond the battlefield. A silent dead zone without any form of life began to form at the location. It started from Guntu's position and began to spread outward, bringing oblivion and destruction. At this rate, the entire plane could face its end.

You might expect destruction to be a process accompanied by flashes of light, energy release, and terrifying sound vibration. But Guntu has mastered destruction to utilize it in a way that is above the mindless behavior of normal destruction. He will harness destruction to create more destruction, he only has to act as the catalyst and energy source to make destruction something greater. That's why he is the eye of destruction.

Suddenly the world stopped. Everything in the plane stopped moving even the origin gods within it. An indistinct figure appeared. It was the only thing moving in this frozen world. It tapped on the frozen cloud of destruction. The cloud began to shrink to reveal Guntu with a big frozen smile on his face. The cloud formed into his robes and trousers. She tapped his forehead and his face became unfrozen. His eyes shook with recognition, a deep fear appeared within them. His smile faltered but was then replaced by an ingratiating one.

He gulped and said, "All mother. It is nice to meet you as always. You are looking even more beautiful than usual. You're positively glowing. What beauty treatment are you using recently? It is working very well. I would like to know so that I can try to look half as good as you."

He might be trying to soften her mood but he is right about her being very beautiful. He is also right about her glowing. While weak eyes will see only an indistinct figure because they can't comprehend what they are seeing, he can see the beauty of her existence. She doesn't have a distinct form or features but she is made up of swirling vortexes of light. He knows enough to identify the little dots of light as planes of existence. Each dot of light within the fabric of her existence is unique and a different color from others if inspected closely. A close inspection will also reveal that the light dots are a little over 100 thousand in number.

The indistinct figure remained unswayed by the complements. Her single eye of burning light and power remained fixed on him. She asked in that voice that sounded like all of existence, of creation and destruction, of light and darkness. "Are you having fun Guntu?"

He could see the mirth in her eye but he didn't dare answer in the affirmative. That's just asking for trouble.

So he shrugged and replied. "It is only so so."

"Is that so? Your standards sure have increased. One of my planes is not even good enough for you now. Guntu the big shot."

He realized that things were turning for the worse. He had to say something in his defense. But he couldn't skew the details in his favor because she knew everything occurring in all of high heaven. A lie will just dig his grave deeper.

"They started it. I just piled on." He pointed to the now vacant battlefield.

It's true. The army of the gods were the ones to unleash cataclysmic damage upon him. His technique, the rings of destruction wouldn't have been so powerful to that extent without their essential contributions. They attacked first and he only retaliated.

"I don't see anyone." The figure said.

He wanted to say. "Of course, there's no one, I destroyed them all. You also know that. So stop being sly with me."

Instead, he maintained his smiled. He knew why she is here so he asked. "How much for bail?"

This is not the first time he had ripped a big hole into the fabric of reality. The planes are just too weak to contain something like an origin god. Even the ancient battlefield, cannot support the aftermath of an Origin god-level battle. A plane is not as stable as the ancient battlefield. Only when its limiters are removed and it is reinforced can it tolerate the existence of an origin god. Without this reinforcement, a plane will start to rupture when the power level reaches that of a titan.

He is not a first-time offender and has accumulated experience from the time he was a titan of law. Both the ancient battlefield and the plane could not take him because of his ability. Back then, it was the acting patriarchs of the family that paid for his damages. There were times he wouldn't be bailed out, those were truly bad times for him. He became one of the few people to ascend to the upper realm as a titan to avoid causing more damage.

The indistinct figure chuckled, the sound of it was like a collapsing star. He knew that because he had collapsed a star before and lived to tell the tale. He tried to break the conception that only a world god can pluck a star. Needless to say, he failed and he failed badly. Turns out destruction energy can destabilize the core of a star.

He silently repeated what he used to encourage himself with during the agonising moments when the energy of that star ripped through him, ''This too shall pass.'

That only worked until she answered. "100 beads of origin essence."

Guntu screamed. "That's daylight robbery. It used to be just 10 beads, how come it is so expensive? It isn't even the ancient battlefield. It is just some measly plane. You are robbing me."

The consequence of causing destruction to the plane depends on the extent of damage and the strength of the plane. The higher the damage the higher the payment for bail. The same goes for the strength of the plane. He had never done or heard about a case that cost 100 origin beads to pay for. It is simply an exorbitant price to pay. It was like she was asking him for an arm and a leg. In fact, he would gladly pay with an arm and leg rather than with 100 beads of Origin essence.

"I just learned about capitalism and monopoly. The rarer something is the more valuable it is. It is my measly plane, not yours, not anyone's." Mother High heaven explained.

"It is more like extortion. What happened to you? You used to be kind and so motherly. The realm lord is a bad influence on you." Guntu complained. He had heard such talk from the realm lord during one of their meetings.

"Should I contact Ghastorix to plead your case?"

Guntu paled immediately. "No don't do that. Please don't do that."

"Are you going to pay or not? Happy jail still has room."

Guntu gritted his teeth. "Fine. I'll pay. How about a discount, you know, for old time's sake."

"No cuts." The figure remained expressionless with an outstretched hand. The same hand she will use to repair the plane. Her hand can lift an entire plane but she is using it to take his lifeblood.

"Alright." Guntu paid in full. He could feel a pain that was equal to the pleasure he felt during his earlier destruction. Probably greater.

"I hope to see you next time." The figure said and disappeared. The world resumed its operation immediately.

Guntu felt his heart ache in his chest, a feeling he had long forgotten since he became transcendent. He looked around the battlefield but there was nothing to show that there was a battle. Even the blades of grass had been restored. He looked around and sensed carefully to make sure he wasn't being spied on. It's not as if it will really help but his poor heart needed the assurance for him to say this.

"I don't even have a battlefield as a memento. This is just cruel."

He sighed in relief when there was no response. He guessed the amount he paid should afford him the chance to be snarky.

"It was an expensive battle but I don't regret it one bit." He snickered when he thought about the earlier battle.

"The ignorant fools thought they can stop me with a bunch of people and weapons. Well, now they know half of my name. Oh I forgot, they aren't truly immortal so I get to introduce myself again." He laughed aloud.