[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-foolish-game-of-the-gods":3,"chapter-foolish-game-of-the-gods-foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-254":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Foolish Game of the Gods",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},579525,829,"Chapter 254: [Void] — A Few Anecdotes (One)","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-254",254,"\u003Cp>In the Void outside the [Chaos] temple, within the endlessly churning breath of primordial chaos, a pair of eyes brimming with [Chaos]'s will gazed toward the place where Cheng Shi had departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those eyes first betrayed a flicker of divine appreciation for a subordinate — then shifted into the disappointment of a schemer gazing upon one who refused to yield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So complex were His emotions that the surrounding currents of chaos grew even more turbulent beneath the force of His will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And right then, violent perturbations rocked the Void. Those eyes narrowed, their corners lifting, before vanishing in an instant. In their place, a colossal hand materialized from the amber chaos mist, breaking through the surging torrent of primordial chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, a pair of eyes painted with constellations and spirals opened above the Void. They gazed down coldly at the chaotic hand before them, a voice like the howling gale of an abyssal chasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"[Chaos]!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hand remained motionless. [Chaos]'s resonant voice answered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"[Fate]...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why have you come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fate has shifted course. I am here to remind you: it's time to draft a new agreement with Him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hand was noncommittal. It swept away the amber fog between itself and the eyes, then rumbled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who is 'Him'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eyes grew colder still: \"[Chaos] is not [Void]. There's no need to dissolve the meaning of self. You know exactly who I mean!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\" The eyes swept over the hand without a shred of emotion. A cold snort. \"That is all I have to say. There will not be a next time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the eyes prepared to dissipate, the hand spoke again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you [Deceit]?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eyes froze. Then turned frigid: \"Are you looking for a fight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh — so you're not [Deceit]. If you're not Him, why are you meddling in matters between Him and Me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see. So you really are looking for a fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come, then. Let Me show you why My follower refused to join your dreary [Chaos].\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An all-out war erupted in the Void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle came without warning, without prelude. So fierce was the clash that the entire Void trembled and hummed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You keep tampering with My envoy's fate — making the divinity that should have germinated in him vanish into nothing. So tell Me...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it he who refused? Or was it you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absurd. Without Divinity, on what grounds would you call him an envoy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is a wanderer of [Void]. When has he ever submitted to [Chaos]?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words of [Chaos] — nothing more than this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph. [Fate] is merely a wagger of tongues as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"BOOM—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tremors across the Void grew ever more violent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi woke up — back on his rooftop again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he kept his eyes shut, face-down on the ground, replaying [Chaos]'s words in his mind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This honor does not yet belong to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd keenly latched onto the critical words: \"yet\" and \"not... yet\"!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Wait — what does that mean?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It means that if I change my mind later, I still have a chance?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi patted his own head in disbelief, terrified that this whole audience had been another extrapolation-fantasy — after all, he knew [Chaos] had stolen [Time]'s Deduction Authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if it wasn't a fantasy, then why would this Being — hailed as the most insane in the entire cosmos — look upon him with such favor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By what right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Just because my reputation among the Gods is terrible?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Just because a certain God is always calling me greedy?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Huh? Being greedy gets you perks?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The world's full of insatiably greedy people, and I haven't heard of a second Ultraman...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Cheng Shi was genuinely stumped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pondered for ages, came up empty, and decided to \"seek guidance\" from a God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, since [Deceit] was the one who'd turned him into [Chaos]'s envoy, the obvious move was to ask [Deceit].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cheng Shi was now [Fate]'s follower. He had no idea whether chanting his former patron's name at a die would prompt his current patron to \"transfer the call\"...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Probably not, right?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'After all, what person... what God could have that kind of patience?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, even if [Fate] knew everything, asking Him about [Chaos]'s business was a stretch too far. And that side was also hoping he'd break his oath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'm screwed.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi suddenly found himself caught between a rock and a hard place. After agonizing for what felt like forever — practically scratching himself bald — he finally concocted a sneaky little workaround.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would recite [Fate]'s prayer while holding one of his masks. That way, if [Deceit] summoned him, he'd have achieved his goal. And if [Fate] intercepted the call instead, he could play dumb and claim he'd grabbed the wrong item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I really am a clever little rascal!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No time like the present!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Cheng Shi produced a golden mask and, trembling with nerves, muttered softly toward it:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fate like myriad stars — within sight, yet out of reach...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words were even finished, his vision went black. He passed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he opened his eyes again, a pair of eyes painted with constellations opened right before him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Deceit]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those whimsically swirling spirals and gleefully twinkling star-dots — that was unmistakably his former patron, [Deceit]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment He opened His eyes, the entire Void began radiating sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How fitting for someone else's favored child. Under [Fate]'s protection, you even dare use another's prayer to blaspheme Me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That single sentence drenched Cheng Shi in cold sweat from head to toe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I've really been sweating too much today. At this rate, I'll be dehydrated.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'But this isn't entirely my fault, my Lord! That redo-your-Path-Beginning room didn't have a single mask in it!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Where were You at that moment?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If You'd spent the energy You're using to mock me right now on THAT moment instead, would I have broken my oath? Huh!?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this thought, Cheng Shi's eyes suddenly lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Right — how is the oathbreaking MY fault!?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I couldn't resist! You're clearly the one who sold me out! I haven't even demanded an explanation yet!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, brimming with righteous indignation, Cheng Shi raised his head, ready to properly debate his former patron — but those eyes seemed to read his mind. The instant he lifted his head, the topic was seamlessly redirected:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ask whatever you want to ask. Do it quickly. I was merely passing through and can't linger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm... why did You make me break my oath?\" Cheng Shi abandoned his original grievance and blurted out the question instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eyes flickered twice, then sneered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You picked up His dice yourself — and you still dare bring this up in front of Me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who gave you the courage to blaspheme Me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it that new patron of yours — the one you used to call a 'bitch' with every other breath?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What a magnificent tongue-lashing!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Look — can we stick to the topic? Stop with the blasphemy-this, blasphemy-that!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Who have I blasphemed?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I don't even blaspheme myself anymore!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi's jaw set stubbornly, defiant: \"My Lord — let's stick to the facts. When I returned to the Path Starting Point, there were only dice inside. No masks! Am I right!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did you just call Me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\" Busted. Old habits die hard — he kept forgetting to change his form of address.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the eyes in the Void didn't seem to care. Not only that — the entire Void began to liven up, its psychedelic colors quietly effervescing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The desperately anxious Cheng Shi, however, noticed none of this. After a moment's hesitation, he corrected himself in a small voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"F-Former Lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effervescent Void froze solid in an instant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wave after wave of indescribable pressure rose from every direction. At this moment, had Cheng Shi not been able to see [Deceit] before him, he would have sworn he'd been transported back to that instant at the Path Starting Point — reaching out to touch the mask!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this oppressive force was far stronger than that time!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eyes swept over Cheng Shi — devoid of joy, devoid of sorrow. The voice was cold as an icy wind howling through an abyssal chasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How do you know there were no masks inside?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi stuck his neck out stubbornly: \"I reached out three times! [Fate] nearly killed me — and I didn't touch a single mask!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eyes shifted, turning playful: \"Why must a mask be in its original position?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Wha—?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Huh?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Huh!?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'HUUUH!?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The mask could have been somewhere else!?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi's mind went blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Hold on — at THAT point, You could still put the mask in a DIFFERENT spot!?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'My Lord, please — use Your head! How is that any different from not putting out a mask at all!?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No — wait, there IS a difference!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The difference is that it made me realize I'm a clown. A clown who lost his own mask!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So... You did place a mask at the Path's Starting Point. I just didn't find it — is that right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this point, Cheng Shi was utterly crushed. He even began to doubt himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Why didn't I search longer at the Path Starting Point?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Why did I keep poking at [Fate], wasting my selection time?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Do I really not belong to [Deceit] but to [Fate]?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Am I truly not a born trickster? Otherwise, why couldn't I find — why couldn't I even sense — the mask that should have been mine?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was frozen. Felt like nothing more than a clown with no leg to stand on, comically interrogating a God who stood far above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this wasn't blasphemy, what was?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried several times to ask where the mask had been placed, but each time, the shame clamped his mouth shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then — the spirals within the eyes suddenly spun faster. He laughed. Laughed with genuine delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hee~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I actually didn't put one there at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi's brain whited out for an instant, as if struck by five simultaneous lightning bolts. He stared in disbelief at those rapidly twinkling eyes and finally confirmed, once again, a singular truth:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi the Clown!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was right — Cheng Shi was indeed a clown!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What a coincidence — because my name HAPPENS to be Cheng Shi!!!'\u003C\u002Fp>",1728,"2026-05-30T16:17:59.408Z","2026-06-01T04:31:40.442Z",1,"novelbin.me","533a9367b669f6465dc66d32dfd0a7731b80298a52ae9ca9dbb2700e150da217","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-255","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-253",1463,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffoolish-game-of-the-gods-cover.jpg"]