# 2027
Chapter 2011: The Missing Fifth Universe
Azathoth discovered that the twelve low-dimensional beings who had blocked Them the first time, and the low-dimensional beings who had blocked Them the second time, both came from the same planet in this universe.
He knew this was where the consciousness fragment of the Fifth Universe was located... Without the power-up from the universe's will, this planet could never have given birth to two lifeforms of this level consecutively. In other words, this planet was the most fortified stronghold in this entire universe.
Azathoth did not recklessly attempt to devour this planet. Instead, He approached it gradually from other directions across the universe. After another long period, 【Chaos】 and the others launched their third offensive.
This time, the dormant universe consciousness, for some unknown reason, suddenly erupted with powerful willpower. Not only was it not directly devoured and assimilated by Azathoth, but it actually attempted to counterattack Him!
However, no matter how strong the universe consciousness's power was, it was no match for Azathoth, who was the sovereign of this world. During an intense battle, it was gradually pushed into a disadvantageous position.
Just as the battle reached its climax, a meteor suddenly crashed through the world barrier where Azathoth resided!
It was a strange building, with a sign above its entrance reading "Asylum of the Gods." The moment this hospital appeared, Azathoth was forcibly dragged into one of its wards. The four other universe remnants that had been devoured of their energy were simultaneously drawn into the first, second, third, and fourth wards.
At the same time, 【Chaos】's main body, which had been in a comatose state after being cleaved by Azathoth and sent into the low-dimensional world, was also absorbed into the hospital, becoming a sleeping caretaker.
Then...
And then?
At this point in the recollection, Azathoth's consciousness suddenly felt a sharp pain, a sense of tearing flooding into His mind.
He couldn't remember what happened after?
Azathoth recalled for a long time but couldn't recall what came afterward. Instead, the pain in His mind grew increasingly intense. He索性 decided to temporarily suppress this thought, turned His gaze toward 【Chaos】 in the courtyard, and spoke slowly:
"What happened before I woke up?"
"Nothing happened, you know?" 【Chaos】 blinked. "I just saw You suddenly rush out of that room, muttering a few words in a daze, then went to open the door... and that was it."
"In a daze... could it be the universe consciousness's backlash?" Azathoth's deep, dark eyes narrowed slightly. His faintly aching consciousness was in chaos as He asked again,
"Did I successfully devour the Fifth Universe?"
Upon hearing this question, 【Chaos】's expression became somewhat subtle. He理所当然地 said: "Of course You did! You're Lord Azathoth—how could there be anything You can't accomplish??"
Hearing this answer, a cold gleam suddenly flashed in Azathoth's eyes!
His身形 instantly crossed the hospital's second floor and arrived before 【Chaos】. In those pitch-black eyes, the威压足以碾碎宇宙 poured forth!
"You... actually dared to lie to Me?"
"Lie to You? Lord Azathoth! How dare I lie to You!!" 【Chaos】 screamed in terror. "I was created by Your own hands. I am Your child! My consciousness was born from You—how could I possibly lie to You?"
"You say I've already devoured the Fifth Universe... then why don't I feel any increase in power?"
Azathoth stared at 【Chaos】. A pitch-black tentacle suddenly burst forth from the void, roaring as it struck toward 【Chaos】—only to pass lightly through, shattering the grass beneath into fragments!
"And why can't I touch you? Your body no longer carries My aura. You are not 【Chaos】... Who exactly are you??"
"I... I..." 【Chaos】's body trembled slightly, as if frightened out of his wits, unable to speak a single word.
"Where is the Fifth Universe?"
Azathoth said coldly.
【Chaos】 lowered his head and gave no answer.
Azathoth seemed to sense something. His pitch-black eyes narrowed as He slowly turned His head to look at the fifth ward on the second floor of the patient building.
Currently, the first, second, third, and fourth wards contained four frenzied universe remnants. The sixth ward was where He resided. So what about the fifth ward?
"Is it there."
Azathoth instantly flashed before the fifth ward, grabbed the door handle, and twisted it forcefully!
"Lord Azathoth, don't!" 【Chaos】's cry came from behind him.
But it was already too late.
Azathoth opened the fifth ward door and, seeing the scene inside, suddenly froze in place.
Inside this ward, there was none of the imagined frenzied, chaotic universe—only block after block of withered, lifeless universe shells. Like translucent shed snake skins, they were densely packed together, resembling countless stacks of old cardboard in an abandoned warehouse, practically filling the entire ward!
Judging from the size of these universe shells, these were all Fifth Universes.
No, impossible...
The Fifth Universe had only ever been one. Then where did these hundreds of millions of Fifth Universe shells come from?
Azathoth stared blankly at this entire ward full of universe shells. From these universe shells, He could sense an extremely familiar aura... that was His own aura.
These universes—He had created them all Himself...
"How could this be... When did I..." The intense pain erupted once more from Azathoth's mind, as if countless needles were piercing His consciousness. He clutched His head with both hands, speaking in confusion,
"No... this wasn't done by Me... Why would I create so many Fifth Universe shells... No..."
"This isn't Me! I... it's not Me..."
"Who am I? I'm not Azathoth...?? I am Azathoth!"
"No, I'm not Azathoth... I wouldn't do these things... Then who am I? Who am I..."
At the same time, above Azathoth's head, a void panel materialized. On that panel, a progress bar was going crazy with fluctuation.
"Azathoth Treatment Progress: 73%... 61%... 54%... 47%..."
Azathoth, who was crouching on the ground in agonizing struggle, had countless fragments of memory rapidly flashing through His mind—apart from His own, there were also those of another person... No, they should belong to another universe's memories.
"Who am I... Who am I... I am..."
Countless chaotic thoughts almost burst His mind wide open. He abruptly lifted His head, stumbled and charged back into His own sixth ward, ransacking the tables and chairs desperately searching for pen and paper to record something. In the rush, He found none.
With no alternative, He could only grab a dinner knife from beside the table, rush to a pristine white wall, and try desperately to carve something onto it.
But for some unknown reason, as this dinner knife's edge scraped across the wall, it left not the slightest mark, as if someone had pasted a layer of wallpaper over it... Azathoth roared and slammed His palm forcefully against this wall!
SLAM—!!
The pristine wallpaper fluttered down like butterflies, revealing a wall already covered with countless knife marks, exposed to the air!
Azathoth stood frozen in place.