Draiss paused before entering, immediately recognizing the danger such a room presented. Massive, invisible leylines crisscrossed the room, and even with V'elen's protection, stepping into one would be extremely painful, if not outright fatal. He paused, kneeling down to examine a rune he didn't recognize, but did remember it being one of the ones from the first attempt that had been a meaningless abomination as far as runes went. Now, however, he could put bits and pieces together, and recognized it as referring to the 'Deep Ones From Beyond' but it had more than just that involved, but he couldn't piece it together with a brief examination. Instead, he looked around, before pulling out a recording drone, and carefully recording the room for later study. Nadriina would be bouncing with joy at this recording, especially as he took several detail shots of the more esoteric runes. He listened to Verdelet with half an ear, simply shaking his head. "Entropy is NOT simply a rising force, it is both decay, and decay of itself. Entropy is just like every other force, it has to be balanced, like you said, but you are, as always, looking only at the shortened version of the equation. Myself and Barid both have found longer ones of it, and while we are still nowhere near the 'complete' equation, we are of the conclusion that the system IS balanced. But you don't really care do you? Always wanting the biggest toys and blasts, justifying it however you have to in order to get it.<br/><br/>But you are also right that each attempt damages the cycle, but what you have NEVER seen is that I usually spend a couple centuries repairing your damage. Your damage, which usually takes millennia to accomplish, hence your demonic form, I undo in less than an elven lifetime. You are, basically, correct in your assumption that eventually this system will, eventually, be destroyed and scattered to entropy, only for it to rise again. Maybe not the same location, probably not the same way, but you don't care, do you? You just want to be the one to push the button and get that one... last... blast, that cements your status as a 'true' god.<br/><br/>Kill one you are murderer. Kill a thousand you are a king. Kill them all, and you are a God. Your motto, I believe, in your first incarnation, where I fucked up, and gave you a more complete version of the reincarnation whatever-the-fuck-it-was, rather than the poison I should have.<br/><br/>Well, you ARE right for a change, in that we are going to end it here.  But you are wrong, not that big a shocker, you usually are, in that this time, I am going to feed your essence to the beyonders. And then I am going to finish off Barid, and wait for both of you to come back, to finish it properly. I may not have a 'cure' for our affliction, but I am responsible for this cycle of the three of us, so I will see it ended. And sad though the thought is..."<br/><br/>He dismissed his armor, and ignited two balefire blades from his hands, before pointing at Verdelet. "I am the 'hero' here."