Sweltering heat. A stench that assaulted the nostrils.
Cheng Shi's vision gradually brightened. When he opened his eyes, he realized he hadn't been teleported out of the trial at all. Before him lay the sa scorched, blood-soaked battlefield. The only difference was that the legions of [War] soldiers that had blanketed the hills were gone, replaced by a pair of...
Divine eyes!
The left eye blazed like fire, dripping molten lava that rolled and surged. The right eye was as still as a lake, yet rippled with blood-red waves. These heterochromatic eyes hung in the sky like the sun and moon coexisting above the battlefield, gazing straight down at the fortunate mortal summoned before Them.
Cheng Shi... went numb.
Being summoned by [War] might not have been terrifying in itself. What frightened him was knowing that [Order], which had splintered beside the Sea of Desire, very likely had an inseparable connection to [War]. This made him harbor a thread of dread toward this so-called god of endurance.
'The dog that bites doesn't bark.' That old saying was painfully apt.
'Wait!'
'This isn't
being blasphemous — [Truth] said it first. I'm just borrowing the expression.'
Who wouldn't fear soone of imasurable depth and patience?
But fear was useless, because [War] could also resonate with fear. The sight of Keinlaur planting Le Le'er's "remains" in the soil of the Kingdom of [War] had yet to fade from his mind...
Cheng Shi could only hope [War]'s fear was the Fear Faction's kind of fear, and not so other variety. Otherwise, he was in for a very bad ti.
He shook his head and cut short his wild speculation, returning obediently to the role of a devout supplicant.
No matter what, praise first couldn't go wrong.
And so he bowed respectfully and called out in a clear voice:
"Praise to the great God of [War]! You illuminated the universe with fire and forged civilization with blood!
Under Your protection, mortals may speak their minds. Civilization grows ever more brilliant, and ideas contend freely.
It is my honor to be summoned by You.
A devout [Void] walker, faithful [Ti] believer, a dauber of [Chaos] upon history, a diligent employee before [Death]'s court, a proxy wielding [Prosperity] and [Decay]'s divine authority, a witness to [Birth]'s descent into history, a bystander in [Folly]'s wager against foolishness, a candidate for [Silence]'s assimilation puppet — Cheng Shi, greets You.
May You... be in good health."
"..."
You could never have imagined that those eyes — eternally flowing with blood and fire — would actually freeze for a split second the mont Cheng Shi finished speaking.
Not even [Deceit]'s probing had provoked a reaction. Yet this shaless player's introduction had rendered [War] speechless.
For a mont, even [War] wasn't sure whether this was praise or a provocation.
Declarations of battle were commonplace. But issuing a challenge by "silencing" [War]? That was a first.
Even [Silence] wouldn't dare that, so where had this one co from?
Cheng Shi was, of course, coming from a place of cowardice.
He'd brought up [Silence] not to anger [War] but to remind Him:
'[Silence] is hostile toward
and wants to assimilate . So I'm on Your side!'
But this laundry list of titles — as long and stinky as an old woman's foot wrappings — didn't move [War]. He simply gazed silently at Cheng Shi. After a long pause, He uttered a single line:
"Your survival instinct... is as strong as ever..."
Cheng Shi felt no sha — only pride. He even reflexively added a dose of flattery: "And Your magnificent bearing remains as... composed as always. Yes, composed."
'Close call. Almost stepped on a landmine.'
Cheng Shi's expression flickered. He hastily snuck a glance upward. Seeing that the third god of [Civilization] showed no further reaction, he breathed a small sigh of relief.
'Seems like He's not here to cause trouble.'
But the instant that thought ford, the eyes of blood and fire spoke again:
"You recited so many of Their nas... hoping They would protect you from ?"
"!!??"
Cold sweat poured down Cheng Shi's back. He scrambled to justify his fear:
"Not at all!
I simply feel that as a mortal beholding a true god's glory, I cannot bear to gaze directly upon Your radiance. Only by chanting the nas of the gods can I muster the courage to receive Your divine word. It is also the only way soone of no particular rit can barely be worthy of Your summons."
'What a "no particular rit"!'
[War] scoffed coldly: "So you're saying... all of Them combined... are less than ?"
"?"
Cheng Shi froze. 'Dude, are You really [War]?'
'That shalessness is straight out of the Fun God's playbook. Is He ssing with
again?'
'Uncertain. Better observe.'
He swallowed hard. Not daring to respond imdiately, he stole a glance upward. Seeing the expression wasn't stern, he mumbled:
"It's not that I think so. Rather, Your spirit is worthy of the na [War]..."
"What a silver tongue that fools the world!" The eyes erupted in a hearty laugh, then suddenly dropped to a grave tone: "But you've gotten too close to Him... Beware [Deceit]."
"!!!"
'Oh no. This really isn't the unreliable Benefactor.'
'The Fear Faction standoff is over. He has no reason to play another heart-to-heart with .'
'But what is [War] after?'
'Is He also in the Approach Faction, aligned with [Fate]?'
'Otherwise, from what position is He warning
about the Fun God?'
'How interesting. A suspect in [Order]'s sabotage telling
to watch out for my own Benefactor?'
'Heh. Has the world gone mad? He's not here to cause trouble — He brought the trouble with Him!'
'You, [War], You're not trying to drive a wedge in [Void], are You!?'
'What, the brute stopped charging head-on and started playing mind gas?'
'You [Civilization] gods are truly foul!'
Internally raging. Externally groveling. Cheng Shi didn't dare voice any objection to [War]'s provocation. He simply hunched further, putting on a look of extre shock and bewildernt:
"Forgive my ignorance. I do not understand what the True God ans."
"If you were truly ignorant... [Deceit] would never have given you a second glance...
I didn't expect your devotion to Him... would give you the courage to probe ... Very well, [Deceit] has clearly treated you well...
But have you considered... that in this universe..."
The scene felt too familiar. Cheng Shi's brain twitched, and the words spilled out before he could stop them, completing [War]'s question:
"...why would anyone be kind for no reason?"
Those eyes didn't seem to mind the minor sacrilege. They showed no reaction, confirming that this was precisely Their point.
Cheng Shi fell silent. The sa question had silenced him again, and this ti the asker was a true god, while the answerer had beco himself.
But he quickly straightened his back, face deadly serious:
"True God above, forgive my impudence.
From start to finish, You have not made things difficult for . So I boldly surmise that You are not from the faction that seeks to obstruct my Benefactor.
If that's the case, let
speak frankly.
I do not believe my Benefactor's shelter is necessarily 'good,' nor do I believe this 'goodness' cos without reason."
Cheng Shi had swapped concepts in this statent. The first sentence referred to [Fate]'s patronage — for [Fate] was also his Benefactor. The second was his response to [War].
The Fear Faction's "unity" was never without cause. It was all built upon upward-facing fear.
But Cheng Shi couldn't yet determine which faction [War] belonged to, so he couldn't elaborate on specifics. He was especially wary that this fear wasn't the kind of fear [War] was hoping for.
However, [War] seed less ignorant than Cheng Shi had assud. He stared directly at Cheng Shi. After a mont, He shook His head.
"Shared suffering may draw you closer... But have you considered... that His way of curing the illness... may not be your road to salvation?"
"!!!"
'How could I not have considered this? This is my greatest fear right now!'
'Nobody knows what the Fun God wants. Whether I'll survive when the era ends is still a massive question mark!'
'But from [War]'s tone... He wants to protect ?'
'Why?'
'Compared to the Fear Faction's Fun God, isn't [War]'s attitude today the truly unexplained kindness?'
'What is He scheming?'
...
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