That's right — what Qin Xin shattered was not the Outer God's conspiracy, but the Iron Law of Order's shackles on Cheng Shi!
Of course he knew that every mortal and god present should be united against their common enemy, tackling the greatest threat first. But he also knew that submitting Cheng Shi to the Iron Law's judgnt would push "the world's answer" away from this world entirely!
The Fate Weaver might have appeared to compromise at every turn, but anyone who truly knew him understood he was no pushover. Like a true Torchbearer, he had been fighting against every form of oppression forced upon him all along.
At this most critical juncture, Qin Xin could not allow the Iron Law's so-called "order" to beco the foolish act that buried every last hope for the world.
And so his arrow was fired without an instant's hesitation.
The flas roared in answer — wild, surging without wind — and in a flash they engulfed Cheng Shi along with the Judgnt Chair.
At the sight of this, the Iron Law of Order's fluttering pages froze in unison. It turned on Qin Xin in absolute fury, its voice thundering:
"Proxy of War!
It was you who invited
here, claiming you would defend the universe's order with your very life!
I persuaded Justice to convene the Assembly of Gods Convention at great cost, breaking the Outer God's lock on the Void — and yet you turn your weapon against ?!
Your enemy is the Outer God, not ! Why attack your only ally?!
Has the fall of Civilization taught you nothing?!"
Qin Xin shook his head and nocked another arrow:
"I know who my enemy is — but I don't know who my ally is!
You never once told
you weren't Order!
Chaos?
What a fine Chaos you are!
If you are Chaos, how can I possibly trust what you'll do with the world's answer? How can I believe you truly fight for the universe's order?
I don't know where the real Order has gone, but from this mont forward — I, Qin Xin, Envoy of War, Servant God of Civilization, am willing to stand in for Order and beco the new order!"
These words were the ultimate provocation against Order — and let us not forget, there was more than one Order present!
Even Fear, the Order-aligned god, was curled up in a corner, staring at the Judgnt Chair consud by flas, imagining himself in that seat, growing ever more terrified.
Justice still said nothing. As the Outer God had pointed out, the mont He sheltered the Iron Law of Order and chose not to intervene in its disruption of the Assembly, His impartiality had already taken a side.
He had chosen to side with this world.
But the Iron Law of Order, having heard all of this, was visibly enraged. Its pages whipped into a frenzy, power of Order spilling in every direction.
"Absurd! How dare you trust the words of an Outer God?
I am Order — the one and only Order of this universe!
I represent the Origin's greatest hope for this starry sky! I am the anchor of Civilization, the sum total of all that is ordered!
Everything I have done is worthy of my divine na. The Clown's disruption of the universe is an undeniable fact. No matter what, he must be judged, and then use his own Fixed Destiny to atone for his cris!
This is his path — and this is the universe's order!"
"Bullshit!"
Before Qin Xin could even respond, Hong Lin could hold back no longer. She hurled curses straight at the Iron Law of Order.
No — not just the Iron Law. In what might be the final Assembly of Gods Convention, the sleeping Big Cat had at last beco a "tiger with open eyes," unleashing a torrent of fury at every god present.
"Obsessive to the point of madness! Rigid to the point of revulsion!
It's because of gods like you — caring only about your own faith, concerned only with your own will, never willing to bow your heads, forever indifferent to life — that the Outer God has been playing all of you like fools!
The Fate Weaver is soone who rembers every kindness! His father adopted him, and he carried that gratitude for a lifeti. Deceit sheltered him, and even when he couldn't be sure where Deceit's goodwill ca from — even when fear of the Fear Faction crept into his heart — he was still willing to follow Deceit!
Such simple, honest goodwill was all it took to 'win over' a Fate Weaver. Why didn't any of you try?
Is it because gods can't lie?
No!
It's because you have no goodwill to offer!
I see it clearly now — gods are just gods. You have no emotions. You see only faith. You possess only will!
But we are different. Humanity's faith is built on emotion and friendship!
If death is inevitable — ha! Release my friend and let
go first!"
Before her words had faded, a figure swift as the wind howled into the maelstrom of intertwined War and Order power — that violent, raging inferno!
In the blink of an eye, Big Cat erged from the flas, her body charred, carrying a soot-blackened Cheng Shi on her back. Her resolute face was etched with the determination to save her friend, all trace of the fear she once felt under the collective gaze of the gods now gone.
But Fixed Destiny was not so easily rescued. The Outer God Fate saw this, let out a heavy snort, and an invisible Void storm materialized from thin air, sweeping toward Big Cat.
He knew Cheng Shi was unhard. This follower of His had too many sches in mind — playing dead for now, no doubt plotting sothing behind the scenes again.
But no matter what he planned, Fixed Destiny was Fixed Destiny. There was no escaping it, no erasing it.
"Before the Spaceti Storm arrives, I have no objection to watching one more circus act from the Clown. Consider it this world's curtain call. No matter how you resist, struggle, or fight — in the end, you'll realize that I was right all along.
The only one who can save this world is .
But unfortunately, before the true answer is revealed, there are always a few who think themselves clever — and they neither deserve nor can endure long enough to see that mont.
Of the gods I can save, there are few. Of those present here — not a single one."
Fate's tone grew ever colder. He gazed at Cheng Shi once more and spoke in a low, haunting voice:
"You have one last chance. Even if not for this world, then for the sake of your so-called friends — I will forgive your blasphemy, take pity on your confusion, and grant you one opportunity to return to the proper path of Fate. Do not persist in your delusion..."
Cheng Shi, draped across Big Cat's back, did not move a muscle. He simply raised a single middle finger toward those rciless eyes.
"Screw you!"
Then he burst into laughter and patted Big Cat on the back:
"Hong Lin, this ti we might actually die."
Big Cat's gaze hardened. A flicker of sorrow passed through her eyes, instantly replaced by ironclad resolve:
"If there's no way to avoid it, if the road ahead is cut off — then let
die first. Use my body as a stepping stone. Maybe then you can still find a path to the other shore...
If that road truly exists — live. And if there's any chance at all, take Xiao Yi with you. Live together."
Cheng Shi's hand tightened on Big Cat's back. He was about to say sothing, but she spoke first, her voice firm:
"Cheng Shi, this is my last wish in life. Don't let
leave you all carrying regrets."
"..."
Just as the despair and sorrow threatened to consu them, the flas of War erupted across the starry sky once more.
Qin Xin mustered every ounce of divine power, igniting every facet of his Authority of War, and once again showed the world War's indomitable will.
Crimson fire scattered in every direction, searing heaven and earth.
He drew his giant bow to the fullest and stood among the inferno, raising his head in a thunderous cry:
"It's far too early to be writing last wills!
The Outer God is still a god — and as long as it's a god, it can fall! Haven't we seen enough proof of that?!
Pull yourselves together! Submission has never been resistance — war is!
And the rest of you — Birth, Decay, Order, mory — and all those servant gods and envoys sitting around waiting to die — do you honestly believe that watching from the sidelines will spare you when the era ets its end?!
Fools!
Those gods who still believe the Outer God can save the world — do you truly think an Outer God's thods can preserve our world?!
He already failed once! What makes you think the second ti will be any different?!
He has dragged this world into the abyss of darkness, not toward a bright future!
The road to the future is one we carve for ourselves! Even I, a re mortal, understand that — and you...
Pfft—"
Before Qin Xin could finish his impassioned speech, a frigid gale of Void struck him squarely and sent him flying.
Under the protection of War's Authority, the blood gushing from his mouth only made the surrounding flas burn fiercer. After tumbling across the ground, he did not hesitate for a single instant before drawing his bow once more.
This Successor of War was truly unyielding. His every move scread defiance against Fate to the bitter end. He was living proof of his own convictions — yet the only one who seed to share them was himself.
Despite his rallying cry, the surrounding gods remained unmoved.
They appeared to have fallen for the Outer God's seduction — every one of them indecisive, their gazes upon Qin Xin and Cheng Shi a tangled web of conflicting emotions.
"Ha... hahaha..."
Cheng Shi finally sat up straight. He knew pretense was useless now, so he dropped the act entirely and pointed at the gods filling the sky, speaking freely:
"Everyone keeps telling
that becoming a god is the only answer.
But now you're telling
that gods... are this lot?
Then why the hell would I want to beco a god? Why would I want that answer?!
Whoever wants this Fixed Destiny can have it. I — am done playing along!"
As he spoke, Cheng Shi suddenly produced the Container of Deceit from within his grasp, raised it high above his head, and bellowed toward the Flowing Light Scales suspended in the firmant:
"I — Walker of the Void, Envoy of Deceit, Yu Xi — demand, under the witness of Justice, to inherit the Authority of the fallen god Deceit!"
His voice was wild, manic. Every god present was stunned.
Fate's gaze grew colder still. Justice offered no response — Yu Xi's identity had not been bestowed by this world's Deceit, so naturally it could not elicit an answer from Justice.
With the Outer God's invasion at their doorstep, He might have been willing to bend the rules for order's sake — but rules were rules. He could not break them, and would not.
And so the situation ground to a stalemate.
But just as every mortal and god was captivated by Cheng Shi's proclamation, a terrifying torrent of divine power suddenly descended, and countless bones rained from the sky.
The usually chattering little skulls were silent now, tumbling and stacking before the assembled gods, forming a bone-white throne to welco the arrival of the one called Death.
The colossal skull arrived. And His first words upon descending were a challenge to the Outer God Fate:
"Can — you — guarantee — this world's — safety?"
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