The Monarch of Decay is one of the Outer Deities from the Cosmos that attempted to invade Earth. "He" is the current owner of the Second Law Symbol2 Second Law Pathway.
"He" is the leftover material of the Fourth Pillar,[2][3] and together with other conditions, "His" symbol of Decay might cause the Fourth Pillar to be born early.[4]
∞↑↑↑SYMBOLS, AUTHORITIES & ABILITIES↑↑↑∞
"He" possesses full Authority over the Second Law Symbol2 Second Law Pathway and the corresponding Symbols, which include but are not limited to the following:
Second Law Symbol2 Second Law: Authorities of Time, Senescence, Disease, Decay, and Entropy, and the Symbols of Decay, Certain Death, and The Endpoint of the River of Time.[6]
This Pathway is a mix of three different Pathways:[7]
The Pathway of Decay.
The Pathway of Time.
The Pathway of Disease.
The Symbols, Authorities, and Abilities "He" possesses and displays at the Above the Sequence level include:
∞ Termination: "He" is the leftover material of the Fourth Pillar.[2]
"His" Pathways represent the following aspects of the Fourth Pillar:[7]
The eventual Decay of all things.
The merciless erosion of Time.
Disease itself, the source of putrefaction.
When the formation of the Fourth Pillar starts from the convergence of the Calamity of Destruction and the Eternal Darkness,[8] the Monarch of Decay will be converged into and become a part of the Fourth Pillar.[2]
As a Great Existence representing Termination, "He" has the confidence to kill another Great Old One in a short time.[9]
Decay: "He" is the symbol of The Eventual Rotting of All Things.[7]
As long as "He" exists, one will experience Decay and eventually reach the end of their life unless they reach Sequence 0.[10]
"He" can make the Decay of an afterimage equal to the Decay of the main body.[6]
"His" symbols include "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong".
This can manifest in various ways, from destabilizing the internal balance of Great Existences[11] to inducing the early arrival of the Termination symbolism.[4]
In The Day of Many Disasters, two of "His" bestowed, one male and one female, were placed as corpse statue in the side entrance of Alista Tudor's Blood Palace in Fourth Epoch Trier. Their purpose was to symbolize one thing: "making anything that can go wrong be most likely to go wrong", which manifested in the increasingly desperate situation facing those within the Astral Barrier and eventually led to the Mother Goddess of Depravity's descent through the Astral Barrier.[12][13]
∞ Time: "He" is The Endpoint of the River of Time, being able to drag the region's Time toward its conclusion.[14].
"He" can slow the surrounding flow of Time and hasten its approach to the terminal point.[15]
"He" used this to defend against the Calamity of Destruction's Supernovae and Black Holes, the shock waves that erupted from the former dimmed rapidly before even nearing "Him", Decaying with astonishing speed, while the latter evaporated at an unimaginable pace, shrinking steadily.[16]
"He" can manifest watery streams of time that was able to slow the flow of the River of Eternal Darkness.[14]
"He" can push "His" body into the depths of illusory ripples where it seems to be the end of Time, the final point of change. This can delay "His" prophesied Death until that Endpoint leaving the present unaffected.[11][17]
Time, when combined with Decay, gave rise to Sureness/Certainty.[7]
∞ Sure Hit, Certain Death: "He" can invoke these symbols as an attack through "His" Left Hand.[16][15]
"He" can make the Death of an Avatar equal the Death of the main body.[6]
"His" Left Hand can block an attack from the Eternal Darkness that combines the River of Eternal Darkness with the three Uniquenesses of Twilight Giant Symbol2 Twilight Giant, Darkness Symbol2 Darkness, and Death Symbol2 Death. However, doing so would render "Him" immobile for a period of time.[14]
∞ Disease: "He" is Disease itself, the source of putrefaction.[7]
Virus: "He" holds the symbol of Virus.[18]
Naturally, the symbol of Virus allows the Monarch of Decay to create Avatars, which manifests at the Doomed One Sequence, however, because "He" inherently bears the symbolism of Certain Death, any separated Avatars will die very quickly.
As a result, "He" can no longer rely on Avatars to assist in combat the way "He" could at earlier levels.[18]
∞Appearance∞
Usual Form: Watery streams of time emanated from the Monarch of Decay, whose body was the size of a planet, covered entirely in golden plating resembling an alien mummy. Between the gaps of the golden plates, greenish-yellow pus oozed out, capable of slowing the flow of the River of Eternal Darkness and dragging the region's time toward its conclusion. "His" left hand was not covered by gold. It was riddled with blue veins, rotting flesh, yellow-green blood vessels, and deeply wrinkled skin.[14]
»True Form: After shedding the golden plating covering, "His" body is a heavily decayed, oozing yellow-green pus-covered body.[15]
∞Background∞
According to the Seven Lights, ever since the Oldest One awakened and split apart, the most powerful Outer Deities in the entire universe, including the Monarch of Decay, gathered around this tiny solar system.
Some of "Them" wish to retrieve "Their" Sefirot and characteristics that had been ripped from "Them", and were attracted here. Some of "Them" hope to get neighboring Sefirot and high-level characteristics which "They" can accommodate.[19]
Monarch of Decay's goals were either the City of Calamity or the River of Eternal Darkness, though "He" could only choose one.[6]
∞History∞
The Monarch of Decay was one of the offspring of the Original Creator and the Mother Goddess of Depravity.[20]
Lumian Lee first encountered believers of this Outer Deity proselyting in Trier and assaulted one of them. One of "His" believers would later be murdered by Lumian after he caused the death of the Ruhr.
The Order of All Extinction is an organization which follows this Outer Deity. They participated in Project Vortex.[21] Higdon, a Saint follower of the Monarch of Decay, accompanied Voisin Sanson to recover Ludwig Phil on behalf of the Primordial Hunger, and Termiboros on behalf of the Circle of Inevitability. At the end of Project Vortex, both Higdon and Voisin Sanson perished.
In The Day of Many Disasters, two of "His" bestowed, one male and one female, were placed as corpse statue in the side entrance of Alista Tudor's Blood Palace in Fourth Epoch Trier. Their purpose was to symbolize one thing: "making anything that can go wrong be most likely to go wrong", which manifested in the increasingly desperate situation facing those within the Astral Barrier and eventually led to the Mother Goddess of Depravity's descent through the Astral Barrier.[12][13]
During The Apocalypse, "He" was assisted by the Circle of Inevitability and fought against Lumian Lee and Amanises. During the fight, Lumian and Amanises had nearly succeeded three times to wound or eliminate the Monarch of Decay, but each time, the Circle of Inevitability had intervened by either resetting the state through Loop or exerting influence via the symbolism of Inevitability.[11]
When Lumian began irresistibly merging with the Monarch of Decay and was about to cause the formation of the Fourth Pillar, the Circle of Inevitability intervened by using the Substitution symbolism to replace the Monarch of Decay within the River of Fate's past with an Angel of Redemption Characteristic. "He" then used "His" true body to replace the avatar, personally entering Lumian's body to face the encroaching power of Termination. Using "His" Eternal Aeon symbolism, the Circle of Inevitability achieved Redemption. "He" then replaced "His" external Sequence 1 avatar to replace "His" true body once again, sealing it within Lumian's body, while the true body returned to reality.
After being saved, the Monarch of Decay was last seen fleeing through the Astral World, and was pursued by the Circle of Inevitability, who was tracking "Him" using the mystical connection that was established through the previous use of the Substitution symbolism.[22]
-x-X-x-
SECOND LAW PATHWAY
∞Overview∞
The Second Law Pathway revolves around using diseases, decay, and pathogens to affect others and bring about inevitable death. It specializes in spreading pathogens and diseases, corrupting others and organizations, using certain death and sure hit attacks, and survivability, excelling at self-division and replication. At High-Sequences, "They" have authorities over Time, Senescence, Disease, Decay, and Entropy.[1][2]
This Pathway is one of the new Pathways introduced in Circle of Inevitability. It exists outside the twenty-two Standard Pathways, but is still classified into Sequence 9 to Sequence 0.[3]
On Earth, the Beyonders of this Pathway do not advance through Potions, but by praying to the Outer Deity, the Monarch of Decay, who is the Above the Sequence of this Pathway, for a Boon. The corresponding Sefirah is the Monarch of Decay's currently unnamed Sefirah.
This Pathway is a mix of three different Pathways:[2]
The Pathway of Decay: All things eventually rot, whether they're matters or organisations, all will ultimately corrupt.
The Pathway of Time: Under the merciless erosion of time, even the most supreme sovereign will head towards their end. When combined with decay, it gives rise to Sureness/Certainty.
The Pathway of Disease: whether intrinsic or infectious, it is disease itself, the source of putrefaction.
∞Mythical Creature Form∞
A colossal, highly decomposed body composed of countless pathogens, often appearing swollen and blackish-blue, oozing yellowish-green pus.[2]
∞Time Giant∞
"They" seem composed of water-coloured time, "Their" massive forms slowing everything around "Them".[6]
∞God of Decay∞
"They" are hunched, ancient to the point of decrepitude, with loose, wrinkled skin blotched with decay. Aside from "Their" mountainous size, "They" appear unremarkable.[6]
≠≈Neighboring and Compatible Pathways≈≠
Compatible Pathways to the Second Law Pathway include, but might not be limited to, the following:
• Pathways under the Calamity of Destruction:[Note 1]
Demoness Symbol2 Demoness
Red Priest Symbol2 Red Priest
• Pathways under the Eternal Darkness:[Note 2]
Darkness Symbol2 Darkness
Death Symbol2 Death
Twilight Giant Symbol2 Twilight Giant
• Pathways under the Circle of Inevitability:[Note 3]
Eternal Aeon Symbol2 Eternal Aeon
• Pathways under the High-Dimensional Overseer:[Note 4]
Sublunary Eye Symbol2 Sublunary Eye
• Pathways under the Primordial Hunger:[Note 5]
Tail-Devourer Symbol2 Tail-Devourer
∞Note:
Because the Monarch of Decay specifically targets the City of Calamity, and because the Monarch of Decay and the Calamity of Destruction can accommodate each other.[7]
Because the Monarch of Decay specifically targets the River of Eternal Darkness.[7]
Because the Circle of Inevitability pursued the Monarch of Decay when "He" was heavily injured and tried to escape.[8]
Because the High-Dimensional Overseer and the Monarch of Decay can accommodate each other.[9]
As the Primordial Hunger is the symbol of Convergence, it is theoretically possible for "His" Pathway to mutually switch to any Pathway.[10] However, at higher sequences, especially at the Angel stage, it is difficult for "His" pathway to switch out, as it is the symbol of convergence and can only devour others. Despite this, one can cleverly use the symbol of separation to switch; the simplest idea is to "die" once, because symbols of termination naturally carry some separation. This temporarily causes one's own characteristics to die or fall dormant, allowing a switch under such conditions. However, this is very dangerous and will most likely result in actual death.[11]
∞Sequence 9: Patient (Rotting Patient)∞
Traits[1]
• Disease Constitution: Upon advancing, Patients will find themselves gaining traits beneficial to transmitting Pathogens and Diseases across a small area.[2]
Their bodily fluids possess the ability to carry Pathogens that spread through direct contact.
They can also actively create ulcerous wounds on themselves to release those Pathogens, infecting enemies in a small area around them without need for direct contact.
A Patient's physical attributes and resistance against Diseases are greatly enhanced.
This essentially allows a Patient to carry their Pathogens inside them without being negatively affected by any possible side effects that might occur by doing so.
∞Sequence 8: Secretary (Bureaucratic Representative)∞
New Abilities[1][2]
• Bureaucratic Proficiency:⁂ They are proficient in a number of skills involving Bureaucracy.
A Secretary is skilled at handling documents, can exploit loopholes in fixed procedures, and possesses strong insight into the minds of their superiors.
However, in the third case they will gradually lose empathy, developing disdain for those with reasonable demands that inconvenience them.
A Secretary is very powerful when representing an organization, but once separated from it, they do not possess any strong abilities.
• Eloquence:⁂ Upon advancement, a Secretary gains excellent Eloquence.
∞Sequence 7: Vermin (Corruptor)∞
Traits[1]
They have limited lethality against individuals, relying mainly on their enhanced Patient abilities.
New Abilities[1][3]
• Corruption: They are able to draw strength and nourishment from organization as well as emanate a Corruption Aura that subtly breeds Desire to those nearby, making them part of their Corrupt faction.
They are extremely dangerous to organizations, creating countless Parasitic Counterparts that hollow out the organization from within.
The organization may appear intact on the surface, but its operations are thoroughly Decayed, ready to collapse at the slightest push.
Corrupting an organization until it collapses is the finest tribute a Vermin can offer to the Monarch of Decay.
A Vermin can also actively use Corruption to make specific targets abandon their principles and embrace self-interest.
∞Sequence 6: Disease Envoy∞
New Abilities[1][2]
• Disease: Similar to that of a Demoness of Affliction, a Disease Envoy is able to spread Pathogens and Diseases onto targets within a certain range.
Compared to the Demoness Symbol2 Demoness Pathway, which uses pathogens to control diseases, the Second Law Symbol2 Second Law Pathway represents the very essence of Disease. As a result, a Disease Envoy can spread various Diseases that stem from one's self, including:
A Disease that can cause someone to become Obese.
A Disease that can make someone Degenerate.
A Disease that can make someone Lazy.
Like a Demoness of Affliction, they can discreetly spread their Diseases.[4]
They can also use the Patient's method of releasing Pathogens as well.[5]
A Disease Envoy's Pathogens contain Spirituality.[6]
Thus it can be vulnerable to certain Beyonder powers such as a Witch's Black Flames.
∞Sequence 5: Child of Decay∞
TRANSLATION NOTE
Even though the Sequences names of "Child of Decay", "Left Hand of Decay", and "God of Decay" all use the term "Decay" in the WebNovel English translation, in the original Chinese novel, they use different words with different nuances.
Child of Putrefaction (腐烂之子, Fǔlàn zhīzǐ):
This word denotes rotting and turning sodden / mushy with liquid.
This is the same word used in the description "the source of putrefaction" of the Pathway of Disease.
New Abilities[1][2]
• Pathogens: As the embodiment of Pathogens, the Child of Decay is not easily killed completely, as Pathogens are very good at self-division and replication.
Strengthened Abilities[1][2]
• Disease: They gain the ability to make others Rot.
In addition, compared with a Demoness of Affliction's infectious Diseases, they can spread more numerous Diseases to a higher degree and variety than that of a Disease Envoy.
∞Sequence 4: Doomed One∞
New Abilities[1][2][7][8]
• Decay: They can spread Decay within a 3 kilometer radius, causing rapid decline in their surroundings.
This can cause opposing Beyonder powers to deteriorate, and can be used in conjunction with Disease to counteract an enemy's active resistance to some extent.
Franca and Jenna's used Black Flames to burn the Disease surrounding them but the accompanying Decaying power quickly dimmed and eventually extinguished the Flames.[6]
Using Decay, Higdon extinguished the blue-white Flames created by Lumian Lee's use of the Sword of Courage that ignited his body.[8]
Jenna's spider threads Decayed by Higdon's mere approach, causing them to wither and loose their effectiveness.[8]
Purifying forces can effectively resist this type of erosion.
Pride Armor resisted the corrosion that came with Higdon's Decaying power.[6]
Objects without Spirituality will also Decay.
A cabin made of wood will collapse,[9] rocks and metals will weather and rust.[10]
• Certain Death: They can fire a greenish-black light beam at the target that causes Certain Death.
If it hits the true body, Death is Certain. Even a Saint-level Beyonder would be critically injured and gradually Die. Even against Higher-Sequence enemies, the effect is potent.
Those below Demigod level would Die instantly unless they had a Substitute.
• Sure Hit: They can fire a dark yellow beam of light that will Surely Hit the target, this can also be used to augment their physical attacks, for example, enabling their arm to lash out like a whip.
Unless the target replaced their true body with a Substitute before the attack, or placed the attacker under an Illusion and causing them to miss their aim, they will be hit for certain.
If the attack was aimed at the true body at the moment of launch, it will hit the true body, rendering Substitutes ineffective. Without special abilities to evade, they will be hit.
The effects of Certain Death and Sure Hit cannot be stacked.
Strengthened Abilities[1]
• Pathogens: A Doomed One can cover their entire body with greenish-yellow pus to enter the embodiment of Pathogen state.
Their body can deform, split, and dissolve into countless Pathogens then reassemble—making them immune to conventional physical damage, able to evade attacks, and relocate freely.
They are able to create Avatars or regenerate missing limbs into complete duplicates, with each Avatar possessing the same level as the original body, not weaker.
While there is an upper limit to the number of Avatars, destroying one alone will not affect the others and it is only through Curses or other similar abilities can they be killed simultaneously.
Even if one Avatar is struck with Certain Death, the others will be unaffected.[6]
They can be used with Certain Death and Sure Hit—suddenly disintegrating into bursts of light for area attacks, achieving different effects, or serving as an escape method.
One such effect is to use Certain Death as an area attack, striking all targets within a certain range indiscriminately.
A Doomed One's strength is slightly weaker than that of the average Sequence 4, but with multiple Clones working together, they can achieve the terror of a true Demigod.
• Disease: They can spread Diseases within a 3 kilometer radius.
Jenna felt a wave of lethargy, as if stricken by a Sickness called "laziness." It felt as if her desires were wilting, showing signs of Decay, and as if parts of her brain were beginning to malfunction.[11]
During this process, as Franca and Jenna's Mirror Substitutes were still forming, their internal organs sprouted noticeable tumors, autonomously drawing nutrients. Blood vessels around the heart and within the brain rapidly became fragile.[11]
lf they hadn't actively triggered their Mirror Substitution, it would have been much more difficult to deal with the actual tissue changes in their bodies. They would need to perform a ritual, praying to the Primordial Demoness or a corresponding Angel to transfer the disease to a designated mirror, or one would need to stick to the target while the other left the area, allowing Lugano to perform surgery combined with the Doctor's abilities for treatment.[11]
≈↑↑Mythical Creature Form↑↑≈
As Demigods at Sequence 4 who have obtained partial Godhood, they are able to manifest their incomplete Mythical Creature Form if they disregard any of the consequences.
∞Sequence 3: Left Hand of Decay∞
≠Downside[1][12]
Their Left Hand of Decay is suspected to be a downgraded blessing from an original Angel-level power, which may explain why Saints of this Pathway suffer weakened abilities elsewhere as a cost.
As a result, their other aspects become quite ordinary, even inferior to Sequence 4 Demigods of the same Pathway, in addition their thinking and reactions will Decay to some extent.
However, the extent to this level of Decay is unclear. Despite being a Left Hand of Decay, Mocoxidos was able to instantly realize the true intentions of the Demoness that Dalberro spoke to.[4]
Authorities[1][3][12]
• Proxy: Similar to the Hand of God, they hold a portion of the Proxy authority.[13] Their Left Hand surpasses Sequence 3, reaching the power level of an Angel, and even higher in terms of status.
Those who see their Left Hand will have their field of vision be completely occupied by it, as if they were beholding the hand of a True Deity. Their body would instantly stiffen, unable to move or evade, while all their Beyonder powers become unusable and their thoughts rapidly Decay. Eventually, their whole body rots to death in a short period of time.
Even viewing it through a clone or projection will severely injure the true body, immobilizing and dooming all clones and projections unless the connection is severed beforehand.
Most Sequence 3 Saints of other Pathways will perish instantly upon facing this attack directly, without any means of resistance.
Even a Demoness of Unaging would die along with their normal Mirror Person upon viewing this hand. They can only revive through their concealed Mirror Person. This would take dozens of minutes or even hours, making further participation in a particular battle impossible.[12]
It can cause the rapid Weathering and Decay in the surrounding environment, as well as make Beyonder powers Wither and Decay, making it useful for blocking attacks.
Their Left Hand can be used to launch objects (like dirt or gravel), capable of launching them with the force of steam-powered rifle bullets.
The palm of their Left Hand will be entirely blue and swollen to the point of being translucent, with yellow-green pus flowing inside.
Every capillary will also be extremely clear, and these capillaries and the lines on the palm together will form one complex symbol and pattern after another.
Strengthened Abilities[1]
• Certain Death: If they hit their target, unless the target had previously used a Substitution ability, their original body would inevitably Decay and move towards Death.[3]
• Disease: A Left Hand of Decay can doom a Disease Envoy to certain death, with symptoms appearing instantly and with no clear indicators.[4]
∞↑Mythical Creature Form↑∞
As a Sequence 3 Beyonder, they can respond to prayers within a certain range.
∞Sequence 2: Time Giant∞
Authorities[1][14]
• Time: "They" begin to touch the authority of Time.
"They" can disrupt, speed up, and slow down Time to a certain extent, but "They" are unable to stop Time.
"They" can also segment Time, segmenting the beginning, process, and outcome of an event to create Disorder and exert certain degrees of interference and influence.[15]
↑Mythical Creature Form[1]↑
"Their" Mythical Creature Form is complete. "They" seem to be composed of water-colored time, "Their" massive forms slowing everything around "Them".[16]
∞Sequence 1: God of Decay∞
TRANSLATION NOTE
Even though the Sequences names of "Child of Decay", "Left Hand of Decay", and "God of Decay" all use the term "Decay" in the WebNovel English translation, in the original Chinese novel, they use different words with different nuances.
God of Senescence (衰老之神, Shuāilǎo zhī shén):
This word denotes senescence / weakening with age.
The first character (衰, Shuāi, lit. 'weaken/decline') is also the first character in the "Decay" of the "Monarch of Decay" (衰败, Shuāibài).
The second character (老, Lǎo, lit. 'old') denotes old age.
Authorities[1]
• Senescence: The fusion of the authorities of Decay and Time. All beings are bound to Age and Decay, and Time accelerates this process; Senescence is the most terrifying Pathogen.
As dying of old Age is something that the majority of Resurrection abilities cannot take effect against, one should never engage in a prolonged battle with a God of Decay.[13]
A Beauty Goddess will be affected by this authority, but "They" will remain Beautiful.[17]
A Miracle Invoker's Resurrection is an example of one that can reset Age.[18]
When "They" master the authority of Senescence, "They" have the capability to match the Twilight Giant's authority of Twilight in the aspect of Senescence.[19]
This depends on how much authority the Sequence 0 has delegated or allowed.
∞↑Mythical Creature Form↑∞
"They" were hunched, ancient to the point of decrepitude, with loose, wrinkled skin blotched with Decay. Aside from "Their" mountainous size, "They" appeared unremarkable.[14]
∞Sequence 0: Second Law (Second Law of Thermodynamics, Ragnarök)∞
Description
The Second Law is the conceptual representation of the Second Law of Thermodynamics and Ragnarök - the "Twilight of the Gods".[2]
Authorities[1]
• Second Law (Time, Disease, Decay): All things eventually Rot. The Entropy of the entire universe can only increase—irreversibly. That day, which is bound to come, is also the endpoint of the River of Time.
Perhaps the universe too will be afflicted with Diseases, and will ultimately Putrefy and die.
• Virus Incarnation: "They" are the embodiment of Virus.[20]