Chapter 30 – The Fool
High above the battlefield, one mind began to understand.
Astrael watched Nameless carefully.
And for the first time—
He realized something unsettling.
"This war…" Astrael muttered.
"…he created it for himself."
Not for balance.
Not for justice.
Not even for power.
For amusement.
For something far more selfish.
Astrael had heard many things about Nameless.
Stories.
Rumors.
Half-truths.
Some said Nameless was righteous—a man who protected the weak without hesitation.
Some said he was a complete monster—a wild fighter who didn't care who stood in front of him.
Others claimed he would betray anyone for survival.
Some called him a dictator—an iron-handed ruler who could kill even his own allies with a smile.
Contradictions.
Endless contradictions.
But the ones who truly understood Nameless…
They all said the same thing.
"He wears a mask."
Astrael narrowed his eyes.
A fool.
That was the mask Nameless liked to wear.
In any room, no one fears the fool.
No one watches the fool.
Because a fool cannot influence the game.
But—
If that fool is actually the smartest person in the room…
Then he can control everyone.
Move them.
Twist them.
Break them.
And they won't even realize it.
Until it's too late.
Astrael exhaled slowly.
"…A dangerous man."
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Varunesh was thinking something similar.
But from a different angle.
He had heard another story.
A darker one.
A name.
"Reaper."
That was one of the first names Nameless ever used.
Nameless never stuck to one identity.
His name changed with his mood.
His personality.
His purpose.
But "Reaper"…
That was different.
Back then, Nameless ruled like a tyrant.
He was strong.
Dominant.
Unchallenged.
He killed without hesitation.
Ruled without mercy.
Not for justice.
Not even for necessity.
Sometimes—
Just for fun.
Because he believed he was at the top.
Until one day—
He met a god.
A being so overwhelming that Nameless couldn't even stand before it.
That day—
Nameless ran.
For the first time in his existence—
He felt fear.
Real fear.
And from that fear…
Something was born.
Hunger.
A deep, endless hunger for power.
Varunesh looked toward Nameless in the distance.
"…So that's who you are."
Both Celestial Gods now understood one thing clearly.
Nameless could start this war whenever he wanted.
And stop it whenever he wished.
And more importantly—
They could fight without fear of death.
Because Nameless had already guaranteed their survival.
At the same time—
In two different locations—
Both Astrael and Varunesh turned toward their armies.
And shouted.
"Fight with everything you have!"
Their voices echoed across the battlefield.
"You will not die!"
"Go all out!"
"Fight until the edge of death!"
Their words grew sharper.
"Do not hold back!"
"Do not hesitate!"
"If your own comrades stand in your way—strike them!"
The armies froze.
Then the final command came—
"Even if your friend stands before you…"
"…kill them without mercy."
A chilling silence followed.
Then—
"Nameless will protect them anyway."
The words spread like fire.
Fear disappeared.
Hesitation vanished.
What remained—
Was pure, unfiltered ruthlessness.
On a distant mountain range—
Nameless watched everything.
Both speeches.
Both armies.
Both sides.
At the same time.
And he laughed.
Not loudly.
Not proudly.
But nervously.
"…These idiots…"
He scratched the back of his head.
"If I said something like that directly…"
"…this war would become a complete joke."
Because it was true.
He had created this war for a reason.
To become a god.
To help his two temporary students ascend.
To fulfill the condition given to him.
So that he could travel to another world.
But now—
Everything had changed.
His other soul fragment…
Had already connected halfway.
Fifty percent.
That meant—
He didn't even need to become a god anymore.
Once the connection reached one hundred percent—
He could travel freely.
Nameless froze.
"…Wait."
"…Did I just create a divine war…"
"…for no reason?"
Silence.
Wind passed through the mountains.
Nameless scratched his head awkwardly.
"…Oh my god."
He couldn't tell anyone.
Not even the people he forcefully considered his "close friends."
For the first time in a long while—
Nameless felt something close to regret.
"…What a waste."
He sighed.
But then—
He comforted himself.
At least—
No one would die.
Because of the barrier he created.
Because no matter how cruel the battle became—
No matter how ruthless the fighters turned—
In the end—
Nameless would protect them all.
The fool of the battlefield.
The mastermind of chaos.
And the only one who knew—
This entire war…
Might have been completely unnecessary.