Chapter 103: Too Grave Consequences
The system notification suddenly blinked before him, and Nolan's face was filled with shock.
Slowly, he stepped back from Lorelei.
"I need a little time." he said to her, his voice steady but guarded, as he disappeared among the shelves under her suspicious gaze.
'What do you mean by you can break her curse?' Nolan asked with a raised eyebrow.
[Breaking her curse is actually simple, Nolan. Very simple.]
[But the consequences of doing so are simply beyond your imagination!] the system replied curtly.
"Tell me everything," Nolan demanded, his tone serious, and the system began to explain.
[First, let's get one thing straight, she isn't actually cursed, Nolan.]
[It's not 'cursed' like your own 'curse.']
[Her so-called curse is the result of something you read about in that book—an energy called Anti-Aether.
[It's what causes the condition they call 'Silent Existence.']
[The truth is, Nolan, what they refer to as a curse can simply be described as an infection.]
[In every generation of Atlantis, there is a person whose physique is naturally susceptible to this infection—an infection from the energy called Anti-Aether.]
[To cure the infection, you simply need to flush out the Anti-Aether from the person's body. It's as simple as that,] the system explained, but Nolan's eyes narrowed, sensing that something was being left unsaid.
'You mentioned grave consequences. What did you mean by that?' he pressed.
[It seems you're not as foolish as I thought. I expected you to be eager to help her and start asking how to remove the curse.]
[Who would have thought you'd focus on the grave consequences I mentioned earlier...] the system said, a mix of praise and mocking in its tone.
[When I mentioned consequences earlier, I meant significant ones.]
[The most minor being your own death, and the entire Cosmic Order being thrown into chaos!] the system stated, causing Nolan's eyes to widen in horror and shock.
"What do you mean?" Nolan asked, his voice trembling.
[Nolan, if there is a group of 'mortals' that the Celestial ones and the nightmarish creatures fear the most, it would be the Atlanteans.]
[The truth is, the Atlanteans can actually be considered Celestial Heirs in their own right.]
"What?" Nolan asked in disbelief.
[What defines a Celestial Heir?] the system queried.
[You might say divine essence and all that, but at its core, Celestial Heirs are those who possess the bloodline of mythological gods, or more accurately, blessed by the gods ]
[How did the Atlanteans come to be? They were willingly blessed by an immensely powerful god, Poseidon.]
[What's the difference between them and Celestial Heirs?]
[Even some Celestial Heirs don't have the blessing of their bloodline.]
[This puts the Atlanteans on the same level of influence and strength as Celestial Heirs.]
[They are immensely ambitious, like their god, and they have the intelligence and power to back it up.]
[One of their greatest achievements was their discovery of Anti-Aether.]
[Anything the Atlanteans do usually creates headaches for both the Celestial Heirs and the nightmarish creatures alike,] the system explained, and Nolan had to agree. -exclusive-content
'So it's true, huh? It was the Celestial Heirs, the Titans, and the nightmare creatures that destroyed Atlantis?' Nolan asked.
[I don't know for certain, but I would say it's likely 90% true.]
[Can you imagine how horrifying it would be if Anti-Aether were created—an energy that nullifies all others, possessed by people as mad as the Atlanteans? ]
[It would only be a matter of time before the Atlanteans ruled over the world completely.]
[It would be insane if the Titans, Celestial Heirs, and nightmare creatures didn't band together to destroy the machine as fast as they could,] the system explained, and Nolan had to agree.
[Do you know why the Atlanteans are still fallen? It's because a trace of Anti-Aether still trails after them.]
[The curse that plagues them is the result of this Anti-Aether, which is also what keeps Atlantis from ever growing again.]
[Right now, the Anti-Aether left in Atlantis is currently present in that her body.]
[If you absorb it away from her, Atlantis will be freed of its curse. And do you know what will happen after that?]
[It will only be a matter of time before Atlantis regains its former glory, just as that Mad king of Atlantis predicted!] the system said, and Nolan's eyes flashed with understanding.
Things were beginning to piece together.
If Atlantis rises again, it would cause a major uproar that could send the entire Cosmic Order into chaos.
When the Atlanteans who have been locked all this while finally make their next move, it will be nothing short of devastating.
[Let's even say, okay, Atlantis learned their lesson and lost their will, so they remained in place. What about you, who absorbs the Anti-Aether?]
[The truth is, Nolan, Anti-Aether needs to be in a body. If you absorb the Anti-Aether from her, it will be like passing the infection into yourself.]
[Two things will happen if you pass Anti-Aether into your body right now.]
[The first possibility is that you will be able to harness the power of Anti-Aether. Instead of controlling divine essence or any other energy, what you will be controlling is Anti-Aether!] the system said as Nolan's eyes brightened.
'I... I will be able to control Anti-Aether! An energy that nullifies every other energy with the simplest touch!'
[Yes, that's the first possibility. The second possibility is that you will blow up with a BANG!]
[The truth is, Anti-Aether is not a stable energy at all, and it has effects that can't be reasoned with and most likely can't be controlled.]
[ Right now, the Anti-Aether in her body is stopping her from making any sound. Even though she talks, only you can hear her. Anything she touches won't make any noise because of the Anti-Aether, and Atlantis will never rise again because of Anti-Aether.]
[Do you see the strange and crazy effect? Who knows what will happen to you if you absorb Anti-Aether?]
[What crazy effect will become yours?]
[What if you turn out like her?]
[Or you simply explode because you couldn't handle the power of Anti-Aether?]
[You can absorb her Anti-Aether, Nolan, but your own life, too, will be 99% forfeited or rendered useless!]