[War] Authority "Indomitable" (Partial): A true god's Authority recognized by the Convention, bestowed by its custodian. Grants the holder limited power to proxy this Authority.
Authority Effect — [Unyielding Arrogance]: The proxy is affected by the Authority, gaining divine presence. The holder is no longer subject to any form of pressure or intimidation, and will exert suppressive presence over those of lesser standing.
Looking at the Authority's effects, Cheng Shi had to admit — Qin Xin understood him.
Given Cheng Shi's current standing — above "human" yet below "god" — proxying a single Authority couldn't advance his power or influence any further. Yet this "Unyielding Arrogance" effect let him hold his head high before the gods, let him sit at the negotiation table with far more composure and calm.
Of course, such a precisely fitting "gift" wasn't because Qin Xin knew everything about Cheng Shi. It was more a reflection of his sincere hopes for this Fate Weaver — that "Indomitable" would mark a beginning. The beginning of this world's mortals challenging the gods with human bodies.
Cheng Shi's expression was complicated. He felt the weight of Qin Xin's expectations. Though the man had explicitly said he asked for nothing in return, the expectation alone was already heavy enough.
Feeling the [War] Authority coursing through him, Cheng Shi was silent for a mont before smiling:
"Verification complete. Our luck is indeed quite good.
In that case, Qin Xin — take your Authority back. You know I wasn't exaggerating before. I really don't—"
Before he could finish, Qin Xin shook his head:
"No need.
You know what I an. This isn't coercion. It's not a moral shackle. It's a gift between friends — a small one."
"...If Authority counts as a 'small' gift, I genuinely can't imagine what would qualify as a big one."
Qin Xin smiled gently: "If it truly feels like a burden, then, Fate Weaver — let's make a trade."
Cheng Shi was far too sharp. The mont Qin Xin uttered those words, he had already guessed what would co next.
"You want
to push you onto that Divine Throne?"
A keen light flashed in Qin Xin's eyes:
"So you really can influence the gods — even seize a Divine Throne!
I thought Hong Lin's throne was sothing you stumbled into by chance. But judging from how certain you look...
I'm curious, Cheng Shi — [Deceit] still reigns. You may not yet be a god. But are you still human?"
"..."
'You'd better not be insulting .'
Cheng Shi smirked, his tone pointed:
"Compared to you, I'm admittedly less 'human.' But compared to certain others, I at least border on it.
Since we've co this far — I won't hide it from you anymore. That's right. We are actively pushing humans to usurp the gods and ascend. You were always one of our targets."
"The Destined Ones?" Qin Xin raised an eyebrow.
"...So they already told you." Cheng Shi's gaze sharpened, reminded once again of being tricked.
These two Real Universe swindlers knew far too much. So much that it felt as though they had personally lived through sothing.
Cheng Shi had been suspicious of their identities from the start. Now, with the conversation reaching this point, he asked Qin Xin to tell him the full story of the impostors.
Qin Xin was equally curious. So he recounted everything about that "Cheng Shi" — yes, even now, he still believed they were Cheng Shi and Hong Lin, just from a different world — lay it all out for Cheng Shi to hear.
When Cheng Shi finished listening, his brow knotted into a tight ball.
'Could they have been sent by [Fate]?'
'Otherwise, why fabricate a "lie" about [Deceit] destroying the world and [Fate] saving it?'
But the things they had said sounded too authentic. If there truly was a world where [Fate] needed to save everyone, Cheng Shi reckoned that even he couldn't have phrased it much better.
Which ant those two swindlers were extraordinarily skilled perforrs.
No — "perforrs" didn't capture it. They didn't just act. They profoundly understood him, and Hong Lin, and Qin Xin.
They were like shadows of the three people standing here — perfect, one-to-one replicas.
'Wait!'
'Shadows?!'
Cheng Shi suddenly looked down at his own shadow. A flash of insight sparked in his eyes.
"You said the Hong Lin who fought you wasn't very strong?"
Qin Xin blinked and nodded: "That's right. That was my impression."
"When was the last ti you sparred with Hong Lin?"
Qin Xin glanced at Hong Lin, thinking carefully: "Quite a while ago. Back when we first t. You could say we got to know each other through fighting."
Hong Lin shot Qin Xin a sidelong look. Clearly, even then, she hadn't considered him a match for her.
Of course, she didn't know Qin Xin was the Grand Marshal, nor that he had a second form.
Qin Xin knew even less about how powerful the current, throne-ascending Hong Lin had beco.
Cheng Shi thought briefly, then patted Big Cat's shoulder:
"Show him."
"?"
Big Cat flinched and instinctively scanned the periter: "Who's coming?"
Cheng Shi shook his head with a smile: "Nobody. Under your combined vigilance, no one would dare approach.
I'm saying — attack Qin Xin. He needs to see your true strength. And I need to gauge the fake who was impersonating you."
Hong Lin understood. A flash of wild delight crossed her eyes.
"Right now?"
Though she was still politely confirming, she had already shifted into a giant bear and was hurtling toward Qin Xin.
The howling wind swallowed Hong Lin's words. Cheng Shi didn't even catch what she said before the two collided with a thunderous BOOM.
This wasn't a duel between two peak players. It wasn't even a mortal contest. This was a clash between two Authority Proxies!
The unstoppable Hong Lin versus the indomitable Qin Xin. Under the dual augntation of [Prosperity] and [Fate], the giant bear could only barely budge Qin Xin an inch!
The Authority-wielding Qin Xin was terrifyingly strong. Even [Order] had fractured before [War] — let alone [Prosperity].
And Big Cat's current Authority wasn't complete. In pure combat power, she could no longer defeat the Authority-empowered Qin Xin.
Still, Qin Xin was startled. If the earlier Hong Lin had been slightly weaker than the one he first t in his own world, this Hong Lin was multiple tis stronger than the earlier version.
From Qin Xin's reaction alone, Cheng Shi knew the imposter who had fought him couldn't match Big Cat's current strength. Which ant the one who had posed as Big Cat before him was likely skilled only in deception — not in combat.
'How convenient. A Cheng Shi who's my perfect double, paired with a "Hong Lin" who excels only at trickery. This combination is practically...'
A realization struck Cheng Shi like a bell. His expression turned strange as he snapped his fingers.
Neither of the other two noticed the shift. Hong Lin and Qin Xin were deep in battle. Not wanting to spoil his friend's fun, Qin Xin had held nothing back, and quickly pressed Hong Lin into a corner.
Hong Lin wasn't the least bit discouraged by her "defeat." Under [War]'s relentless pressure, she beca the "indomitable" one.
She fought with uninhibited abandon — no sulking over the gap, no resentnt over the reversal. This was the real Big Cat. She never fussed over petty things.
But mid-battle, both fighters sensed sothing wrong in their surroundings.
They disengaged simultaneously and turned toward Cheng Shi — only to find that, at so unknown point, another "Hong Lin" had appeared at his side!
Hong Lin's pupils contracted. She warned instinctively: "Watch out!"
But Cheng Shi only smiled. He pointed at the Hong Lin beside him, his expression a masterwork of mixed feelings:
"I think I've figured out who those two liars are."
"Who?!" Qin Xin and Hong Lin exclaid in unison.
Cheng Shi rubbed his nose. His laugh was impossibly layered — part self-deprecation, part bitter amusent:
"Probably one suprely bored Clown.
Yeah. We were tricked. They weren't two people. They were one.
One Clown."
...
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