The sixteen Divine Thrones were nearly finalized. Apart from Corruption, which was proving particularly troubleso, and Fate, for which the Fla of Hope had yet to be found, the only one remaining was Folly.
The reason Folly was saved for last wasn't anything complicated — it was simply because Galusha had been spending a lot of ti in Dolgod recently.
That place was Ti's prison, the site of the Ti Knot, and the location where Cheng Shi planned to begin the experint.
Going there ant not only facing Aph Ros's "interrogation," but also ant he would have to launch that predetermined and absurd experint. He had been avoiding it, postponing it until only Folly remained.
Cheng Shi had actually considered making another trip to the Fire Passing Hall — perhaps Qin Xin had received so new information. But he also knew that if Qin Xin had found the Fla of Hope, he would have notified Cheng Shi imdiately.
So where on earth was It hidden?
Should he really use the Convention's authority in his hands to force It out?
But Cheng Shi didn't want to do that. After all, this was the Fla of Hope who had stood on the opposite side from Deceit just to support him. Even if Its identity wasn't as straightforward as he'd imagined, until the very last mont, Cheng Shi didn't want to damage their "revolutionary" bond.
So he decided to go to Dolgod first.
So things you simply have to face — so let the storm rage.
Yet surprises always outnumber plans. Just as Cheng Shi was about to set out, an unexpected visitor ca calling.
A brilliant phantom star plumted from above, suddenly detonating in the Void. It burst apart before Cheng Shi, dispersing into a thick, churning yellow fog of chaos.
The fog roiled without ceasing, pushing a long staircase toward Cheng Shi. At one side of the staircase, Kataro stood respectfully, addressing Cheng Shi with the utmost deference.
"My lord, soone is requesting an audience with you at the Temple of Chaos. Will you see them?"
"Kataro?"
Cheng Shi blinked, furrowing his brow. "Who wants to see ?"
He was surprised. After all, this was no longer the era when Chaos was disguised by Deceit and Deceit Himself was seldom seen. Zhen Xin had inherited the Authority of Chaos and had beco the new Chaos. Kataro's Benefactor was still present — so who would be seeking an audience at the Temple of Chaos?
And moreover, which "him" were they asking for?
Ultraman?
The mont Ultraman crossed his mind, a na flashed through Cheng Shi's thoughts.
"Hu Wei?"
Kataro nodded at once. "Correct, my lord. The ones requesting an audience are those two followers of Chaos, but they aren't asking for Lord Ultraman — they're asking for... you.
The current you."
His tone dripped with reverence as he spoke those final words.
The way this servant of Void looked at Cheng Shi had completely changed. Before, he had thought that at most, the great Lord Cheng Shi would take over his Benefactor's Divine Throne and beco a true god.
But who could have imagined that the man who not long ago had to disguise even his status as an Envoy had now beco the Convention's Proxy!
That was an existence that could be considered above the gods themselves.
Zhen Xin hadn't kept this from Kataro. She had told him everything, and Kataro was brimming with pride!
Lord Cheng Shi was far greater than he had ever imagined!
Cheng Shi, however, paid little attention to Kataro's shift in attitude. He was rely thinking that since there were two visitors, it was most likely Hu Wei and Da Yi.
Once the Divine Throne of Chaos had a proper successor, he had indeed overlooked his good brother.
Now that he thought about it, Hu Wei was the true Chosen One of Chaos and had contributed to Chaos's cause. With the Divine Throne now in Zhen Xin's hands, he must have had so complicated feelings about it.
And who knew whether Zhen Xin had said anything to him during the Audience eting, or why he was looking for Cheng Shi at this particular mont...
"Did Zhen Xin send you?" Cheng Shi asked.
Kataro didn't dare conceal it. He nodded quickly.
"Yes, my lord. Our Benefactor specifically summoned those two followers in a private audience and disclosed so of the universe's developnts to them. This ti they've co — Kataro suspects — perhaps to bid you farewell."
"Farewell?"
What were they saying goodbye for?
Cheng Shi hesitated for a mont but decided to spare so ti for the eting. Setting everything else aside, he'd been making this big brother do his bidding for quite a while — the least he could do was show so appreciation.
So Cheng Shi nodded and stepped onto the Staircase of Chaos.
In the hands of true Chaos, the Staircase was a manifestation of its Will. Even as the Convention's Proxy, walking upon it required resonating with the intent of Chaos. Fortunately, Zhen Xin had no intention of making Cheng Shi embarrass himself by breaking into a dance at a ti like this, so before long he arrived inside the Temple.
The Temple was virtually unchanged, but the person behind it had long since been replaced.
Seeing the two familiar figures in the center of the Temple, Cheng Shi found himself at a montary loss for how to greet them.
Hu Wei and Da Yi spotted Cheng Shi too. Their expressions were even more complicated. Only when Cheng Shi walked up close did Hu Wei let out a hearty laugh and say:
"Brother Cheng, it's been a while!"
Da Yi's expression shifted several tis before he also called out: "Grann — Brother Cheng, you've been holding out on us. We..."
"Da Yi!" Hu Wei nudged Da Yi's shoulder. Da Yi clamped his mouth shut, sighed, and fell silent.
Cheng Shi didn't know how much Zhen Xin had revealed, so he could only respond with a smile. "So you both know?"
Hu Wei nodded, but before he could get a word out, the hot-tempered Da Yi jumped in again:
"We know. The world's done for, and everyone's trying to find a way. Look, Brother Cheng, we're not the kind of people who'd abandon our own. If we'd known the gods were just like this, you should've told us sooner. Maybe we could've figured sothing out before things got this bad."
"...I'm sorry. I didn't know where the world was headed either," Cheng Shi said with a bitter smile. "By the ti I found out, everything had already been arranged.
The way I see it, not knowing is a kind of blessing. At least you don't feel so hopeless."
Da Yi wanted to say more, but when he saw the exhaustion on Cheng Shi's face, he quietly swallowed his words.
Hu Wei patted Da Yi's shoulder, then patted Cheng Shi's.
"Brother Cheng, no matter who you are now, no matter how far apart our knowledge lies, I've always treated you as a true brother.
Sure, walking the path of faith ans occasionally pulling a few tricks on your brothers — but I knew you could handle it. Just like now, you've handled everything.
As for
— I thought I was cutting a dashing figure in this ga, even 'stealing' myself the thin title of 'Grand Marshal.' In the end, it all amounted to nothing.
This self-directed chaos ultimately only drove myself mad. Ha — call it karma, I suppose.
But Brother Cheng, we've co to say goodbye."
So it really was a farewell?
"Where are you going?" Cheng Shi blurted, then suddenly realized. His eyes widened. "The Real Universe?"
Hu Wei and Da Yi nodded simultaneously.
"That's right.
Learning of the era's affairs only at its twilight proves we've already fallen behind the tis — that we're of no use to them.
Since we're no use, we might as well go out and 'see the world.'
I've always felt my life was quite the spectacle, both before and after the gods' descent — finding the rules, breaking the rules, forging myself, gaining satisfaction.
But now, under the shadow of the Origin, I cannot accept that my entire life has been nothing more than an expendable variable in so experint.
I want to see it with my own eyes. The Real Universe. The so-called Creator. Whether there are countless other universes beyond ours. Whether, freed from this world, I can find even a sliver of Vitality under a different sky.
I was never a follower of War, but I've always yearned for it.
When you've chanted 'How to survive — only through blood and fire' enough tis, when the mont of truly 'how to survive' arrives, all you can cry out is 'only through blood and fire!'
Brother Cheng, in light of the humble contributions we've made for Chaos, for Deceit, for Void, and for you... give your big brother a chance.
Even if I die, I want to die in a place where I know who I am — not muddled away inside so experint."
"Damn it all, I can't hold back anymore — sa goes for !" Da Yi declared, his face resolute, his blood running hot.
"..."
Cheng Shi could understand how Hu Wei and Da Yi felt. He knew that people like them would never accept diocrity, nor would they give up the fight.
But if Deceit truly had found a future for the world, that future could only exist beneath this starry sky — not out there in the Real Universe.
Of course, among those countless Slice Universes, perhaps there truly was a brighter future than this world's. But would such a world be easy to find?
If it were, the Real Universe wouldn't be drifting with so many versions of Cheng Shi. Sending them out now was tantamount to sending them to their deaths.
But after a mont of silence, Cheng Shi agreed to their request.
He chose to respect their decision.
Though before consenting, he made one final attempt at persuasion. "This starry sky is very likely the only one that can escape the Origin's gaze. I can't guarantee it one hundred percent, but at least the chances are better if you stay. You..."
"Please!"
Hu Wei's gaze was unwavering. It was clear that "survival" wasn't why he wanted to leave.
Understood.
Cheng Shi nodded.
"I'll release you when the ti is right, but only on the condition that it won't jeopardize this starry sky's future.
Say your goodbyes to the world. When the mont cos, you'll be free to go."
Cheng Shi dismissed the two with a mind full of tangled thoughts. Standing before the empty Temple, he murmured to himself:
"Ignorance spares you from despair. Why must you insist on tearing open this cruel reality?"
From above the Temple, a wisp of chaotic yellow fog descended and materialized into Zhen Xin's form. She landed opposite Cheng Shi, first offering a smile, then letting her expression settle into gravity.
"Everyone has the right to know. Besides, even if we said nothing, they'd find out eventually.
You've been busy consolidating the Divine Thrones, so you probably haven't noticed so unexpected developnts in the real world:
Soone is spreading the na of the Origin among the people!"
"???"
"The existence of the Origin is no longer a secret. Not only that — the players also know that the Origin has already visited.
I don't know the exact aning of this 'already visited,' but when I traced the chain of information back to its source, I discovered that the truth the players so firmly believe... ca from the mouth of Wei Mu.
But if I'm not mistaken, Wei Mu should have already departed by then.
So, Cheng Shi — who do you think is the one pulling the strings behind all of this chaos?"
...
Reviews
All reviews (0)