Among the gods, it had always been a struggle of sches and deceptions, each vying to seize what the other possessed.
They had spent eons fighting over each other's authority, so in Herobos's view, the "humiliation" suffered before [Deceit] was utterly trivial.
Compared to that Divine Throne, a few cutting remarks ant nothing.
The only thing that unsettled Him was [Deceit]'s explicit demand for [Oblivion]'s container to be left for Yu Xi. He couldn't help but worry that [Void] was using this as a ploy to seize His newly gained position. Those swindlers were simply too cunning.
Then again, if this "usurpation" deal had co solely from Yu Xi, Herobos might have been sowhat anxious. But now that [Deceit] Himself had spoken — willing to claim a share from this transaction — it actually made the whole thing seem far more feasible.
Regardless, having taken this first step, He needed to make preparations for the eventual transfer of the Divine Throne.
Herobos summoned Mo Shu to a hidden corner of a world on the brink of annihilation. Looking at the bewildered follower before Him, He tempered His usual coldness and did His best to smile:
"I know you have many questions, but the ti for answers hasn't co yet.
Change is brewing among the gods, and these changes may ripple down to mortals. But rest assured — as long as you are my follower, I will protect you."
[Oblivion] hadn't technically "abdicated" yet, and Herobos didn't dare be too explicit. But the phrase "my follower" clearly caught Mo Shu's attention.
He furrowed his brow, thinking that Lord Herobos had always made a point of ntioning the Benefactor's na in everything. Whenever matters arose, "the Benefactor" was always on His lips. So why, today, when speaking of the gods' affairs, was there no ntion of the Benefactor?
He didn't dare probe further and could only nod in agreent. Then he asked about Cheng Shi. The mont Herobos heard the na, His tone turned complex:
"The divine decree is shelved for now. Do not make any moves against him."
"What?!
Why?!
Has sothing really happened to our Benefactor?!"
Mo Shu's pupils contracted sharply, his entire body coiling with tension.
Herobos snorted and shook His head:
"He doesn't have any problems. In fact, He is closer than ever to the true will of [Oblivion].
We should cheer for Him, not weep.
As for you... simply walk the path of [Oblivion] steadfastly. Prove your devotion — that's enough.
And if you encounter other followers who share your piety, tell them the decree is void. Don't pursue it, and don't ask questions."
Mo Shu felt as if struck by lightning.
"Don't ask questions" clearly ant "don't go asking the Benefactor." He could tell that Lord Herobos appeared to be privately countermanding the Benefactor's divine decree. But as for why...
He didn't dare ask. He didn't dare know.
The open and covert struggles among the gods were universally acknowledged by players, but Mo Shu had never imagined the day would co when that conflict erupted within his own faith's ranks!
'What happened to Lord Herobos? Could He have been bewitched by that Fate Weaver?!'
It wasn't impossible!
The Skull Roach had beco Cheng Shi's ally the mont they t. The Zhen sisters, shunned by everyone, had also grown close to him. And in this Trial, the Ascetic Monk and that Purgatory Bishop had been willing to risk their lives for him!
'What makes him so special?!'
'He's just a Fate Weaver — at most, a Clown. He's not so incarnation of sin! What gives him the ability to plant the desire to get close to him in everyone?!'
Mo Shu felt as though his sky had collapsed. He looked toward Herobos, wanting an explanation, but the words died on his lips.
'What am I supposed to ask? "What did the Fate Weaver promise You?" That would be too absurd.'
'What could a mortal possibly promise an Envoy worth having?'
'He stood just one step below a true god, sovereign above the universe. What benefit would make a servant god risk blasphemy to defy a true god's will in order to protect him?'
'He couldn't possibly have promised Lord Herobos a true god's throne!'
'How utterly preposterous.'
Seeing Mo Shu's shifting expression, Herobos offered no further explanation. In the end, no matter how special Mo Shu was, he was rely a pious and sowhat capable mortal.
There were plenty of such followers. He wasn't irreplaceable.
It was only because this was a critical period for faith consolidation — when devout followers were useful for condensing divine authority — that He had specially summoned Mo Shu as a show of divine grace.
Once His divine authority was secure, perhaps the new [Oblivion] would also need a new Chosen One. Of course, that would depend on whether the old Chosen One's piety carried any fresh surprises.
Herobos gave Mo Shu one aningful glance, then His form gradually annihilated into nothing.
Mo Shu stood there with a grim expression, feeling like he was the true Clown.
'First encounter — lost my double. Carrying out the decree — lost my teammate...'
'I finally got an Envoy by my side, only for the Envoy to tell
I can't touch the target anymore!'
'Why?!!'
'Privately defying the decree is bad enough, but the Envoy and the Benefactor seem to have actually started an internal power struggle!'
'Is this what [Oblivion] is?'
'Then what exactly is being annihilated — ? My devotion to [Oblivion]?!'
'What aning is there in an [Oblivion] like this?!'
...
anwhile, Cheng Shi had returned to the Trial and was quickly found by the Torchbearers. Fortunately, the one who found him was Ji Yue, not the Prisoner.
Seeing Ji Yue's taut expression, anxious that enemies might be lurking everywhere, Cheng Shi waved his hand to reassure her.
"It's been dealt with," he said with a smile.
"Dealt with?"
Ji Yue's eyes went wide. "You killed Mo Shu? Alone?"
Cheng Shi pursed his lips and sighed:
"Eh... didn't kill him. Felt too sorry for him, so I let the mutt keep his life.
After all, fair's fair — I did eat his cake back then and never paid. I should leave him sothing.
His dog life is probably worth two slices of cake."
Ji Yue blinked in bewildernt, then gave a half-snort of laughter:
"Do you think I'd believe that?
Co on, what are you scheming this ti? You know full well they're targeting you with an agenda — there's no way you'd let him go.
I know you're a good person, but your brand of 'good' doesn't work like that.
Torchbearers believe in repaying every grudge. The only reason you'd release him is for a bigger catch.
Don't tell
you've turned Mo Shu and plan to use him to infiltrate Jie Shu's group and root them out from the inside?"
"?"
'Have you been reading my script?'
Cheng Shi stared at Ji Yue suspiciously, marveling at the Torchbearer's uncanny intuition.
She was right — that was exactly his plan.
Until Herobos's "usurpation" plan succeeded, the arrangent prevented him from making any move against Mo Shu. But that didn't an he couldn't collect so interest in the anti.
Since this Jie Shu knew certain things and was using Cheng Shi's identity for his own purposes, Cheng Shi naturally wanted to investigate. Sparing Mo Shu was one more opportunity.
Where there were circles, there was leverage. Infiltrating from the inside through Mo Shu was a masterful play.
Whether by offering secrets or exploiting emotions, Cheng Shi now had plenty of cards to play against Mo Shu — aning yet another pawn had been born.
He had never ntioned any of this to anyone. The fact that Ji Yue could guess this much ant he'd been spending too much ti around the Torchbearers lately and his thinking had beco transparent.
Ti for a clean break.
Cheng Shi pressed his lips together and didn't respond to Ji Yue's words. Instead, he stiffly changed the subject:
"[War] doesn't protect His followers every mont. Rein in your temper when you should, or it'll cause you serious trouble down the road.
That's all. The Prisoner's coming — I don't want to see him. I'm leaving."
With that, Cheng Shi pointed behind Ji Yue.
Ji Yue was still puzzling over how the Prisoner had ended up on the sa path as her. The instant she turned to look, she realized the trick — but by the ti she spun back, Cheng Shi was already gone.
"..."
'Why does he avoid company like he's dodging a plague?'
Ji Yue sighed helplessly. She quietly erased the lingering traces the Fate Weaver had left behind. If he didn't want to be found, then she'd let him go his own way.
When she looked up again after finishing, however, the Prisoner had actually arrived — though his expression was oddly stiff. Ji Yue couldn't help but ask:
"What happened to you?"
The Prisoner's lip twitched, and he gave a forced laugh: "I know nothing."
"?"
Ji Yue frowned.
'Why is everyone acting weirder than the last?'
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