Chapter 234: Mother of Liberation

Chapter 234 – Mother of Liberation

{What a ridiculous family you are becoming, O Vaelgrims.}

The Records said, filled with amazement at the ever-growing monstrosity that was the Vaelgrim family.

They had just finished rewarding one member of that family—blessing her with talents and a physique that could place her among the very top in the universe.

And now... another one of the same bloodline had managed to comprehend a fundamental aspect of shadow?

If you think it’s easy, think again.

Because Ester needed an Original—someone born from the very substance of shadow itself—to open up and let her see what she was, to let her feel that existence, in order for her to finally understand.

And even then... it was only possible because Ester reached a state of enlightenment. A pure, raw state born not from study or logic, but from a sudden and total insight into the path she had chosen. Completion met with realization.

It was not easy.

But Ester had all the tools. It felt like Fate itself wanted her to succeed.

And so...

She did.

And when she did, the Records had no choice but to respond.

No choice but to reward.

{Ester Vaelgrim, you have succeeded in achieving a profound enlightenment on the Formless aspect of Shadow.}

{You are becoming a being of absolute no shape. You are becoming the very definition of the Undefined.}

{Your talent is starting to evolve.}

{Your physique is beginning to change.}

{Your standing in the universe... is evolving.}

{You are now without flaw in your Elysiari’s shadow bloodline.}

{You are on the path to becoming an Original with Formlessness as its core.}

{Your current understanding of Absolute Formless is: 50%.}

{And...that’s your limit.}

{To go further... find the Origin of Shadow and integrate with it. Only then can you fully evolve into what you are meant to be.}

The Records paused.

Then continued,

{You have obtained a new Title.}

{Title: Budding Original of Shapelessness.}

{Congratulations, Ester Vaelgrim — Wife of The Records’ Favorite.}

And then it ended.

Leaving Ester standing alone.

But not quite the same.

Her aura had shifted. It wasn’t on par with Sylphira—not yet, not in raw power or status—but there was now... a resonance. A vibration that whispered of similarity.

And Sylphira noticed it immediately.

Just as she was about to speak, her expression shifted—her head turned sharply toward a certain section of her city.

Her eyes narrowed.

She was looking toward the Brothel of the Damned.

That single moment of distraction was all Ester needed.

And then—

’My dear Shadow, time to come back and see your Loving Husband.’

Noah’s voice rang inside her head like the chime of fate, and a smile immediately bloomed across her face.

And just like that, she began to disappear.

Sylphira turned her head back just in time to see her vanishing.

She had barely a moment to react and it was already too late.

But Ester left behind something some words,

"Thank you for your help. I’ll make sure we go easy on you."

Her voice echoed—strange and warped.

It wasn’t the voice of a human anymore. It wasn’t the voice of a single being, either. It sounded like multiple entities... or like none at all.

Something in between.

Something undefined.

Sylphira stared at the empty space, her mouth curling into a laugh.

"...Interesting."

She didn’t even process the words Ester had said. Only how her voice sounded.

And that alone confirmed it.

"She did it," Sylphira muttered.

"She has no flaw left."

And that made Sylphira... eager. Eager to meet her again. And she knew—without doubt—that she would.

"Go easy on me, huh?"

She laughed—deep, childlike, excited.

"Hahahahah..."

And then she vanished, heading toward the destroyed brothel.

...

Three of the Shadows had returned.

But one remained.

The Daughter of Shadow... or the Mother of Shadows, depending on your perspective.

Shadeva.

Unlike the others, who struggled in their own way inside the Shadow Realm for one reason or another, Shadeva faced no difficulties.

Not even once.

From the moment she entered the City of Order, everything moved precisely as she had intended.

Was that surprising?

Not at all.

She was Ebony’s big sister.

She knew Ebony like the back of her hand—especially since Ebony was the kind of being who never changed.

She remained constant. She clung to order as if her entire existence depended on it.

She believed in one thing above all:

Consistency.

And truth be told... Shadeva didn’t disagree.

If you want to go far in life, you have to be consistent in your actions, in your mindset, in your pursuit of growth.

But—like all things in life—there’s a limit.

And Ebony had never learned that limit.

She applied the concept of consistency to everything—even to her own thoughts, her attitude, her beliefs.

And what a disaster that was.

Because even if her power evolved... her self did not.

And what is life without evolution? Without change? Without adaptation?

It is stagnation.

And Shadeva used that. She exploited the fact that Ebony had stayed exactly the same. That she refused to accept change, and hated it when it appeared in her domain.

And so she acted subtly.

You may not know this...

But Shadeva’s leadership skills are lethal.

She knows how to talk. How to gather. How to inspire.

And with those skills, she slowly but surely began drawing people to her inside the City of Order.

It started with the waitress who gave her tea.

Then with her help, she slowly brought the others—customers, passersby, workers—under her sway.

That coffee shop became her base.

But she didn’t stop there.

Days passed. Weeks. Months. Even years.

And one by one, the city became hers.

It wasn’t hard to convince the people—they had been living dull, joyless lives without any spark of entertainment or color.

Shadeva just took all the little distractions Noah used to ramble about—books, movies, games—and told them the same stories.

And as she watched their eyes light up with wonder... as they imagined living a second life inside books, or watching "movies," or playing those endless games...

Shadeva herself became interested.

And she promised herself to tell Noah—the Creator—to make it happen.

Because she didn’t want to disappoint.

And now... years later, the entire city was hers.

From the lowliest citizen to the highest official.

Even the Watchers of Order—the ones closest to Ebony herself—was already within her grasp.

And Ebony knew nothing about all this.

Not even for a second did she suspect it.

Because in her mind, it was impossible. Illogical. Unthinkable.

That someone could outplay her in her own city?

No way.

And now, Shadeva sat calmly inside her favorite coffee shop—Breeze of Order—sipping tea with grace.

She looked around.

People were just living their lives.

But with a single word, a single whisper from her lips, they would all kneel.

That... was the influence she held.

She smiled, demurely.

Then—

’My dear Original, time to come back and see your lovely master.’

Noah’s voice rang inside her head.

And with a soft smile, she whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear:

"Wait for me... I’m coming back soon."

Then she disappeared.

No one reacted.

No one moved.

They kept talking, drinking, laughing, as if nothing had happened.

But inside every mind in that shop...

’Understood, O Mother of Liberation.’

What a good mommy she was.

—End of Chapter 234—