Chapter 14: Fate Is a Bitch?
Rewinding slightly, to the moment Cheng Shi shouted, "Fate is a bitch!"
Above the sky of the Land of Hope, within a plane beyond mortal reach, three pairs of eyes opened simultaneously.
The first pair bore heterochromatic irises: the left eye was burning flame, the right eye was flowing blood.
The instant He opened His eyes, a stirring anthem resounded through the void. Every note sent souls surging and battle lust boiling.
"This is… My trial… You… broke the rules…"
The second pair of eyes was cold and silent, utterly devoid of emotion. The whites were inscribed with swirling spirals, the irises engraved with divergent points of starlight.
Meeting His gaze for even an instant made one feel as though one's soul was being dragged toward endless oblivion.
He glanced at the first pair of eyes and said coldly:
"When did you exchange authority with [Order]?"
"…"
That was clearly a jab, and it did indeed strike the other dumb.
As the two faced off, the corner of a third pair of eyes curved upward slightly, emitting a delighted low chuckle.
This third pair resembled the second, but the divine radiance within was more vibrant, or rather, more like the eyes of a "person."
He watched the standoff in silence, saying nothing, only smiling.
"Why… have you come…"
"I heard a blasphemous boast. I felt Fate being mocked. I shall exercise My authority and exile the ignorant sinner."
"This is… My trial… You… broke the rules…"
"…"
This time, it was the other one's turn to fall silent.
The third pair of eyes suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
"How amusing, thoroughly amusing! An idiot who only trusts himself, and a fool who can't hold a conversation outside of war! Hahaha, too amusing!"
"Is it funny?"
"Is it not?"
The second pair of eyes narrowed slightly, casting a cold glance at the third.
"Why have you come?"
"Why have you come?"
"He worships Me, yet blasphemes against Me. I am naturally entitled to revoke his qualification. Are you intending to shield him in violation of the [Covenant]?"
"But he has already been snatched up by Me, which makes him My follower. Are you intending to exile him in violation of the [Covenant]?"
Those eyes that pierced through oblivion cast another cold glare at Him, fell silent for a moment, then slowly dispersed.
The third pair of eyes laughed once more.
"Why… have you come…"
"Me? I've come, of course, to save My adorable follower."
Saying this, a finger as translucent as jade extended forth, piercing through endless planes to arrive before [Wrath of Abomination].
He simply placed His hand there, and all the firelight across the sky contracted and tightened, retreating as though terrified.
Having His rampage interrupted by a "person," [Wrath of Abomination] became incensed beyond measure. But when He saw the eyes behind that finger, His fury cooled instantly, and His colossal frame gave an imperceptible shudder.
He quietly and precisely cinched a sliver of His prison door tighter, so that not a single meteor fell across the area that finger indicated.
The first pair of eyes widened a fraction. The blood in those irises boiled; the flame roared.
"…You… broke the rules…"
The third pair of eyes blinked.
"And?"
"…"
Those blood-and-fire eyes stared at Him for a long moment, then fell silent too.
"Tch. Your follower wages war in every direction just to earn an audience with You, and You, the sovereign of war, bearing the divine name of [War], won't even throw a punch at Me."
"…The [Covenant]… cannot be violated…"
"Heh. Boring."
He cast a single glance at the unknown starfield, then vanished from the void in an instant.
…
Everyone was thoroughly spent from running, especially Chen Chong and Xia Wan.
Once they realized they had truly escaped danger, they refused to take another step, simply lying flat on the ground, gulping down air.
Chen Chong had Nangong's healing throughout the journey, so his condition held up decently. The only one who suffered was Nangong herself, hauled in his grip the entire way, her face so pale she looked as though she'd been dragged across the ground.
Xia Wan, on the other hand, thanks to Cheng Shi's continuous healing, had once again become a "mother" ten months "pregnant."
For this particular problem, they still needed Song Yawen, the professional abortion specialist.
He stationed himself beside Xia Wan of his own accord. Every time a patch of skin burst open to birth a new twisted life form, he was the first to hack apart the "monster" before it could even open its eyes.
As he chopped, he grumbled:
"Why do all [Birth]'s newborns look so sanity-shredding? Does an upright god actually like this aesthetic?"
Xia Wan pursed her lips without speaking, then turned to look at Cheng Shi.
The meaning in her eyes was crystal clear: Cheng Shi's score is higher, he knows more than I do.
Cheng Shi's faith channel had absolutely no one discussing [Birth]-related matters. He hadn't the foggiest idea why, either. Yet he still delivered an explanation with absolute conviction, though his expression was somewhat strained.
"·When you haven't been born yet, if you could change your own appearance, what would you want to look like?
These newborns who worship 'my Lord' simply wish to become what 'my Lord' likes. It's just that…
They don't actually know what [Birth] likes, so they start using their imagination.
As for the results, well, you've seen them."
It was the first time anyone had heard this explanation, yet the confidence in Cheng Shi's voice didn't sound like speculation at all. It sounded more like a clarification made by someone who knew the cause and effect. Coupled with how he'd saved everyone from impossible straits time and time again, they all instinctively felt inclined to believe him.
Only Cao Sansui widened his eyes and pressed for confirmation:
"The consensus among [Birth] players I know of is that the newborns already know [Birth]'s true appearance, but with their limited abilities, they can only reproduce fragments of it.
That's a completely different concept from what you're describing. Are you saying that even the newborns born under [Birth]'s influence don't know His face?
Is that true?"
Everyone looked at Cheng Shi, waiting for his answer.
The reason they took this so seriously was that the answer concerned the fundamental relationship between [Gods] and [Followers].
If the newborns knew [Birth]'s appearance and were doing their utmost to reproduce it, that would mean the gods could accept the adoration of their believers. In that case, the rumored "draw near to the gods and save yourself" would become a real possibility.
But if the newborns didn't know [Birth]'s appearance and were merely attempting to please Him, then the relationship between [Gods] and [Followers] might be far colder than anyone hoped.
And coldness meant that man and god were fundamentally divided.
Those who begged for divine blessing might forever remain trapped within the Gods' Game, scraping by as mere players.
Cheng Shi didn't know whether what he said was true or false. But lying had already become his "habit" and his "constraint." Even when he didn't want to lie sometimes, his mouth had opinions of its own.
His smile was somewhat strained, but his tone was beyond dispute:
"·Absolutely guaranteed authentic."
Xia Wan blinked, staring at the "tentacle" newborns ceaselessly emerging from her body, and asked in shock:
"Where… did you learn this?"
Cheng Shi smiled mysteriously. "·Classified."
Xia Wan nodded thoughtfully and didn't press further.
It was Song Yawen who suddenly chimed in:
"Brother Cheng, you wouldn't happen to be [Birth]'s [Chosen], would you?"
[Chosen]: the player ranked first in each faith's Ladder of Audience.
Cheng Shi froze, then hastily waved his hands in denial:
"I'm nowhere close to first on the Ladder of Audience. Even if I craned my neck until my head fell off, I wouldn't be able to see their feet."
After he said this, both Xia Wan and Nangong simultaneously glanced down at Cheng Shi's feet, the same thought rising in their minds:
"Could Cheng Shi really be [Birth]'s [Chosen] on the Ladder of Audience? Only a 'Chosen' would have such inconceivable methods of escaping danger…"
Cheng Shi guessed what they were thinking and instinctively tucked his chin in, continuing to deny it.
But Xia Wan didn't believe him for a second. She sneaked a peek at the [Ladder of Audience] shared by [Birth] and [Defilement], and saw that the [Birth] follower ranked first had the ID "Cures Infertility."
"…"
That tone… it sure matched. It really matched.
Seeing the conversation revolving endlessly around Cheng Shi, Chen Chong, who'd rested long enough to catch his breath, responsibly cut in.
"Um… could we maybe find a safe place first, then discuss the [Chosen] question?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, staying alive comes first."
Everyone exchanged glances, then burst into roaring laughter.
The euphoria of surviving against all odds finally erupted in this moment.
"Generally speaking, once you've cracked the trial's puzzle, the danger level drops sharply. Still, we should stay cautious.
Let's head southeast. Whether you go by the Land of Hope's battlefield positions or the Fear Demons' marching direction, the southeast should be far from the vortex of war.
We walk a while longer and see if we can spot the Blizzard Mountains. That area might be free of all conflict, enough for us to last out the rest of the trial."
Cao Sansui had regained his composure and encyclopedic recall. Dragging Chen Chong along, he led the group toward the southeast.
After surviving the Meteor Fire Rain, everyone's spirits had clearly lifted, though vigilance remained.
On this leg of the journey, Chen Chong took point, Song Yawen kept perimeter watch, Cao Sansui coordinated from the center, and Nangong dosed herself with blood potions while continuing to heal Xia Wan.
As for Cheng Shi…
He was like a grandpa on his first package tour, desperately curious about every detail of the Land of Hope, pestering "tour guide" Cao Sansui with a barrage of questions.
Knowing the history might increase a player's survival rate in trials. He hadn't bothered before because his faith channel had no useful information and the class channel was a minefield of half-truths and fabrications. He'd only skimmed it briefly and paid no attention.
Now that he had a "living history textbook" right in front of him, why not ask?
Sign up to join the discussion...
Already have an account? Log in
No comments yet. Be the first to discuss this chapter.