When Cheng Shi returned to the trial and found that Skart hadn't co back with him, he was montarily stunned.
But then it clicked.
'Seems that lord really likes the Scarlet Hunter. Why else would He keep him at the Bone Throne as an attendant?'
Being rid of a complication that wasn't even a real lead lightened Cheng Shi's mood considerably. Now, he needed to continue his lobbying campaign.
Birth was out of the question. The first god of the Life path had explicitly said He never wanted to see Cheng Shi again. No point poking that hornet's nest—if he annoyed Him enough to switch from abstaining to voting against, it would be a farce even if it didn't change the outco.
Decay, however, was still worth a shot. True, this god shared the Descent path with Oblivion, but Cheng Shi did hold proxy over His authority, didn't he? For the sake of "Faded," maybe—just maybe?
So Cheng Shi decided to first see if he could reach this god he hadn't visited in ages. He found an empty corner, hid himself away, posted Shadow Cheng Shi as a lookout, then sliced his arm with a dagger and prayed over the wound:
"All beings shall rot, all things shall decay."
"Great God of Decay, Your dedicated Faded authority proxy, Cheng Shi, sends his greetings."
"Having walked the path of universal fading for so ti now, certain new ideas have ford in my mind. But whether these ideas serve the withering of Decay's faith requires counsel from You—the universe's most accomplished 'Faded One.'"
"Should You have a mont to lend an ear, it would be the supre honor of both myself and the universe."
Prayer was prayer, but honestly Cheng Shi wasn't expecting much. This old relic had long since shut His doors to visitors and didn't even attend the Assembly of Gods Convention anymore. Cheng Shi doubted any excuse he concocted would rank higher than the Convention assembly.
After a beat of silence—nothing.
As expected. Cheng Shi shrugged, preparing to head to the Joker Gathering Place, unearth That Dream My Nightmare, and use it to ascend to mory's Collection Hall for a chat with mory.
But just as he was about to slip into the void, a torrent of Decay force erupted from his arm wound, dragging everything around him into decrepitude.
Walls faded. Earth rotted. Vegetation withered... Everything in sight lost its vitality in an instant. Even Cheng Shi, proxy of Decay's authority, couldn't withstand the erosion—he crumbled to a mound of yellow earth within monts.
When he opened his eyes again, he was back inside the Septic Final Tomb. Within the massive palace built from dark stone blocks, the ancient giant had tumbled from His throne and lay on His back beside the bloodstained seat, half His body already stripped to bone.
If not for the rotting flesh still clinging to the skeleton, Cheng Shi would've thought he'd stumbled into his boss's cosplay.
'Decay's will is being carried out thoroughly, I see. He really is even more "pitiful" than before.'
But pitiful or not, this was still a god. Cheng Shi didn't dare show the slightest disrespect. He hurriedly bowed and offered praise:
"Praise to the great God of Decay!"
"May You be withered wood and rotting timber, on death's very doorstep. May Your faith wither, forever parted from prosperity."
"May no one in the universe spare You a thought. May the Creator at last look down and grant You rcy..."
Cheng Shi knew exactly how to flatter Decay. He understood that Decay was a die-hard Approach Faction mber—everything He did was to draw closer to that *Him. So Cheng Shi steeled himself against the revulsion and fear, and wove the Creator into his praise.
The tactic worked.
The giant slowly raised His head, leaning against the throne. Tainted blood trickled down the chair's back, dripping onto the tomb floor. In the weakest possible voice:
"Deceit's follower... you've done... well..."
The sa opening line. The sa familiar scene.
One sentence dragged Cheng Shi all the way back to that Prosperity trial—back when Prosperity was still alive and he was just an ordinary player.
But now...
The person was still the sa simple soul. But quite a few gods had fallen, and Civilization had only one left.
Cheng Shi sighed wistfully. He didn't dare take credit, rely bowed: "It's all thanks to You."
'And naturally, the bla is Yours too.'
The giant had no idea the Clown was muttering under his breath. He wheezed feebly:
"Faith... has not yet... withered... Faded... need not... be reclaid..."
"Why have you... co...?"
"?"
'Wait—the Faded authority can be taken back?'
Cheng Shi was alard. But a mont's thought made it clear: if the goal was universal decay of all faiths, only Decay Himself could remain. A proxy authority holder couldn't be allowed to exist at the end.
Given the contributions Cheng Shi had made to Decay's fading cause, He probably wouldn't kill him—but He would definitely reclaim the authority.
This forced Cheng Shi to reevaluate his role as a "Faded One."
'Ti to slow things down.'
Next ti he encountered a Decay follower, he couldn't rush to fade them. But he couldn't just let them pass either.
If Decay happened to be watching and saw him slacking, all his prior rit would be wiped out. So he needed a plausible excuse to stall—sothing convincing enough to slow the fading without raising suspicion.
After mulling it over and deciding the approach was viable, Cheng Shi said with utmost deference:
"Great One, this visit isn't about the authority. It's about accelerating faith's decline."
The giant's clouded eyes brightened. He nodded weakly:
"Speak..."
Cheng Shi held nothing back. Given his standing in Decay's eyes, one proposal wouldn't undo everything. So he shared his plan to topple Oblivion—though he wrapped it in a reason Decay couldn't refuse.
"The shifting of paths is also that Being's will. I'm sure You understand this far more deeply than I do."
"If so, then I've been thinking—perhaps Decay shouldn't only decay from within. It should also be obliterated by Oblivion."
"But Oblivion probably won't do this. He still needs Descent's support, and He doesn't want You drawing closer to the Creator before He does."
"He may not want to do it—but plenty of others would!"
Hearing this, Decay understood.
"You an... to replace... Oblivion..."
"Exactly!"
Cheng Shi nodded and launched into an impassioned pitch.
"Think about it—if a new Oblivion is installed and an agreent is reached, having Him obliterate enough sources of faith after taking power would bring You even closer to that Being!"
"Moreover, a newly enthroned Oblivion would have the self-knowledge not to compete with a senior like You for the Creator's rcy. That way—You, I, and Him—we all benefit. A win-win-win!"
"..."
The giant fell silent.
In His view, Cheng Shi's intentions were good, but the idea was wildly unrealistic.
He harbored the exact sa doubts Death had: Oblivion wasn't that easy to deal with. And who would take His place?
He glanced at Cheng Shi. The implication was obvious.
Cheng Shi naturally couldn't reveal his full plan to this god. So he kept things vague, saying only that he'd exploit the Convention—but didn't specify how, or who would replace Oblivion. The gist of every sentence boiled down to two words:
Vote, please.
The giant pondered for a long ti, then coughed heavily:
"I understand."
Then, without ceremony, He flicked Cheng Shi back to reality.
A bewildered Cheng Shi stood in the alley's shadow, face darker than the darkness itself.
'What does "I understand" an?'
'You understand but I don't! Did you agree or not?!'
On a matter this important, he couldn't afford to be careless. With no other choice, he had to treat it as a rejection.
Which ant he still needed to visit mory.
Just thinking about that rival god summoning him while wearing his boss's face made Cheng Shi's scalp tingle.
'What choice do I have? A wage slave's fate is to report and be rejected.'
'Sigh. Onward.'
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