You can only save those who are prepared to be saved.
It was a line that popped up on Aleph's mind as he saw Ling turn into ashes. His perception was far beyond anybody else's at this point. He could have reacted quickly and stopped her before she killed herself.
But…
Then what?
'No family… and the burden of killing millions.' He thought. 'Nobody could bear it without going insane.'
Aleph thought himself to be the 'indirect cause' to these deaths. The burden he felt was no less than a mountain's. What more of a child who directly caused these deaths?
In that case, death becomes a luxury of eternal rest… and the final thing she could do to 'atone' for what she had done.
"Sir Aleph… That girl…"
"She's dead."
"..."
Aleph walked towards the place of Ling's death.
"I am not the type to back down on my words. I can't save her in this life."
The dark blue rhombus crystal slowly floated to his grasp. In that instant, Aleph saw a pure white dot amidst the darkness.
"Not now. I will meet you later."
For the first time, the indescribable light came out from his grasp and counteracted the Cocoon's influence. A small amount was all it took to disrupt its attempts to forcibly bring Aleph to the Finality Space.
It was all thanks to the Blank Pathway he received. It was a kind of conceptual "position" that gave Aleph a "throne" amongst numerous concepts. When it comes to "that concept", he comes first.
Long story short, he was on his way to become an Aeon.
Although, it wasn't just that. The main reason why he could achieve that effect was due to the three "things" inside his body.
The Sephira Crystal acted as the perfect container while the Blank Pathway acted as the catalyst that awakened an ability. Hence, his overwhelming power to reveal his "True Form" and cause others to die with a glimpse.
As to which concept was awakened by the Blank Pathway…
"Perpetuity."
Aleph realized the nature of the indescribable light.
It was none other than Infinity.
Everything it touches would possess the attribute of infinity. In small contacts, it was enough to raise a power to another level. In another way, it could preserve the current states of its target.
Infinity's nature, the container (i.e., Sephira Core) and the catalyst (i.e., Blank Pathway) enabled Aleph to reach his current level.
"Pathways exist to affirm a concept… and to anchor its Aeon tightly." He paused his mutterings as he thought, "...but [Wandering]'s origin says otherwise."
With Elemental Sight and his recent power up, it wasn't difficult to capture few 'hidden' information from the abilities he possessed. It was more than enough to see the general gist of a certain power system.
[Wandering], which came from the same origin as [Blink], was related to their world's power system. It involved [Pathways] similar to the Aeon's, but vastly different.
By becoming the corresponding God of that [Pathway], you will gain the opportunity to have "anchors" of one's identity.
When a "God" becomes too assimilated by the [Pathways] they spearheaded, they lose their sense of self... for reasons unknown.
These thoughts flew casually in his mind as he used his extremely fast thought speed to process things.
Aleph's fingertips touched the Herrscher Core. He then swiped it to the empty air. This action took away spots of white light from the crystal.
When it was exposed to the place where Ling died, more and more light spots began to converge… until it was considered "whole" again.
"This is…"
Sakura walked up to Aleph and saw this strange phenomenon. It was akin to being surrounded by hundreds of fireflies, but more different.
"The soul. True death will only occur once the information of your existence… your soul… dissipates."
It was a concept that came from Otto himself.
In his attempts to "save" his beloved, he came across numerous things. One of them was through the use of Herrscher of Death.
Of course, it ended up in failure.
Sakura's eyes widened upon hearing Aleph's words.
"Revival of the dead… Will you—?"
"No. That is what she wished… and I will respect that. But… her next life will be another matter."
The rules of this world allow for the mind (i.e., soul) to find a matching vessel. That was the reason why there were so many people from the Previous Era that appeared in the Current Era.
Himeko, Mei, Carole…
However, that was where it ended. Once a suitable 'vessel' was found, the pieces of mind crumble. The people who were "resurrected" in the Current Era were no longer the same as the people who lived in the Previous Era.
They are considered as a brand new person, be it in terms of personality, character, will, and the likes.
As such, Aleph used Infinity to hold everything together. It ensured that Ling's "mind" will be retained even after a vessel was found.
"I will give her everything she wants… as well as my protection."
Films of indescribable light began covering these gathered light spots into a sphere.
"She will live a new life… while being the same person as she was."
"Then… about her memories..?"
"I won't interfere with their disappearance. All I wanted was to retain her "self"... her characters and the likes. This is the second chance I am giving to her."
Same person, different situation.
This was what Aleph wanted to grant Ling. He wanted to give her the life she sought while retaining the "character" that belonged to her.
It was then did he remove his domain.
The moment he did so, the sphere made of indescribable light dissipated into the air.
Aleph then faced Sakura.
"I might be leaving for a while."
He said the same things he did to Kevin. Sakura took everything in silently. She did not speak out much on Aleph's decision.
"How confident are you?" She asked.
"Fifty to sixty percent. As for my death… it won't happen."
Somehow, she could feel that it wasn't spoken out of consolation, but that Aleph possessed enough strength to keep himself alive.
She looked at him before finding out she couldn't say anything. She could only purse her lips in silence. It was at this moment did she realize she couldn't properly associate herself with being Aleph's friend and being Aleph's sharpest blade.
Even…
'What am I thinking..?!'
A sudden third option appeared in her mind.
*****
A/N: There are two Infinity now. One was the Cursed Technique, while the other was the authority (i.e., the power with Aleph) described as an "indescribable light". We'll know more about these later on...