Chapter 561 Evaluation
Dilan had a lot to contemplate about but it didn't really change anything about his battle in the 50th round.
He would have to face the Eternal Darkness without being able to use his abilities. On the other hand, Nial Orin would be able to use them, which was probably how the artificial intelligence of the City of Trials wanted to make the battle fairer.
Nial Orin had entered the City of Trial when he was not even three years old and a thousand years after Dilan had entered the City of Trials. More than 9.000 years had passed in the City of Trials since then, which made it quite clear how old, or rather, young, the Eternal Darkness was.
"He is only around 26 years old, isn't he?" Dilan asked the Oracle, who nodded her head vigorously. Talking about Nial Orin made the Oracle more comfortable with others, even around Dilan.
'If he is 26, I have 10,000 years more experience of life and battles. Looks like it's only fair if he gets to use his abilities. I learned a lot from True Gods and countless books, either way.'
Dilan tried to sort his thoughts but the Oracle's behavior distracted him a lot. It was not even possible for him to think about a way to defeat the Eternal Darkness as quickly as possible when he had a day-dreaming powerhouse right next to him.
"You traveled with him for a short while, didn't you?" He thus asked one of the few questions he was curious about.
There was no way that the Oracle acted like her celebrity crush was going to come over at any time if she had never met him before.
"Huh? What do you mean?" The Oracle had been daydreaming and she only listened to him half-heartedly.
"Exactly what I asked? You traveled with him, didn't you?" Dilan had to control his emotions so that he wouldn't feel like beating the shit out of the Oracle.
Unfortunately, that was harder than expected because the Oracle was way too excited and on cloud nine to be around Nial.
"I traveled with him, fooled around with him, and supported him secretly. I am so thankful that the Origin chose me to give him a helping hand, even if it was just once…" She exclaimed and sighed deeply with a bright smile on her face.
'That nutcase has really fallen head over heels in love with the Eternal Darkness. What the hell happened to this old hag? Does she even know that she is millions of years older than this Nial Orin? Isn't there some sort of age restriction for Gods?? He is 26, God damn!!'
Dilan had a really hard time with this current version of the lovestruck Oracle and he sincerely wished that the cold and distant Oracle would return soon.
"So…when will he arrive? And you said something about his second Godly Trial…does that mean his mission will be to defeat me, just like it's mine to defeat him? If so, wouldn't that mean I have already won because he won't be able to kill me, no matter what? Not that I mind the wait though!" Dilan asked and he quickly noticed that he made a mistake.
He shouldn't have revealed the loophole in the final round of the Power of Trial.
It was not possible to defeat him, which meant that he would win the 50th round of the Power of Trial, no matter what.
However, contrary to his expectations, it looked almost as if the Oracle had expected such a triumphant reaction from Dilan.
She didn't even seem to mind the fact that he spoke about Nial Orin's loss, which was weird considering how she had been fangirling earlier.
"His mission will be to defeat you or to survive 100 days against you. As for your mission, it will be exactly the same!" She said quite nonchalantly before she pointed at him with a faint smirk on her face.
"You might wonder why your mission changed in the final round of the Trial of Power, but didn't you realize it already? The Universe has already accepted that you will get the True Destruction Trait. Whether you win against Nial or not doesn't matter," The Oracle answered him, her voice more serious than before, "But the trait might be stronger or weaker according to your performance in the fight against the Eternal Darkness.
After all, the Universe has to figure out whether you're only worth a small investment or if you are actually worth getting nurtured big time!"
'So that's why she had to leave to ask something…probably.'
Dilan nodded his head in understanding, but the Oracle was not yet done speaking.
"Nial might take a few more days before he will reach us. Apparently, he is having a talk with the last remnants of sentience belonging to the Late God of Darkness…that piece of shit…"
The last words slipped out of the Oracle's mouth inadvertently but Dilan didn't mind that. He was rather fond of her when the Oracle showed her emotions like that.
It made her seem more like an actual living being rather than a machine, or a creation of the Origin, constructed for a single purpose.
"My True Undying Essence needs some time to recharge, either way. I should show the Eternal Darkness, and our fair judge, the Universe itself, how powerful I am, and that I'm worth a big investment rather than a small consolation prize," Dilan said in a determined voice, smiling faintly at the thought of fighting the Eternal Darkness.
Everyone was constantly saying that the Eternal Darkness was stronger than him. While that may be possible, it scratched on Dilan's pride.
Thus, he wanted to make use of the oblivion of the Eternal Darkness. Dilan didn't know much about the Eternal Darkness, but the same could be said about the other side as well.
Nial Orin didn't know much about his Origin ability, or the extent of his abilities either.
The most he might know was that the prophecy labeled him the Undying, but that was already it.
'I should show him the true extent of my Origin ability!'