Chapter 1464

I dreamed that Caesar's statue stood before the altar of the damned world, level with the gods' gaze.

Blood spurted from the statue's seven orifices, and the people cheered as they washed their hands in golden blood.

The dictator's life will end in a violent death, with no one shedding tears for her, and the world will cheer and applaud as they topple her statue.

"She will meet her death before dawn arrives."

"— Said by a spiteful noble stripped of his title by Caesar."

「……」

"*We* cannot agree with your usurpation. You have imprisoned the avatar of Tirisibell, demanding that divine authority be reduced to a mouthpiece for kingship. *We* will tell you the future revealed by the oracle, faithfully—"

Your journey is indeed a bright and smooth path, yet *we* also see your death omen, a demise in the darkness where no light reaches.

Sorry, even *our* gaze cannot help but be drawn to the flames upon your crown—

"… "Fate Marquis"? That title, *we* actually don't mind."

"— In the name of the priest, holy maiden, and oracle‑bearer of Janusapolis, Caesar's "Fate Marquis" speaks thus."

「……」

"Allow me to remind you: your life has entered a countdown following the fall of the "Law." You shall become the "Law" itself."

"I need to confirm that our deal is still ongoing, right? The future I have promised you is more satisfying than the one in the oracle."

"Ah, you are as decisive as ever. This is wonderful. The divine prison of Ophyrus, and all those mediocre worlds, need a resolute ruler."

"Let us together put an end to this detestable calculation."

"— Ophyrus "Divine Rite Spectator," and Caesar's *conspirator*, Luku EarGos, speaks thus."

「……」

"Caesar has 'betrayed' the Fire‑Chasing Alliance; I am the sinner who paved the way for her great deed, like a deep‑sea fish unable to escape the current's pull."

"I have bestowed upon her an ending befitting a tyrant—her dying smile, gazing at me with tear‑filled eyes."

"Let me wash away all my sins and filth. Grant the holy city a radiant dawn. Let me, in the lightless deep sea, erect a monument to remember my companions."

"But if one asks who will commemorate her achievements, I will accompany her in eternal rest within the song of solitude."

"— The last heir of the "Ocean," solitary wave‑player Hailietula, speaks thus."

「……」

"Please record my life truthfully, author. There's no need to exhaust flowery and solemn language."

"Just as I once entrusted the "Wind‑Singing Marquis"—the chronicles of emperors are not meant to record deeds, but to serve as a mirror for those who come after."

"How Caesar died, and what condemnation she will face before and after, will be judged together by the future new world. Now I myself step onto the path of my own guilt's end, letting the holy city be strewn with scorching gold that stamps my name."

"Since I am certain I have defeated the demi‑god, the remainder shall be left to my successors to arrange."

"— The sole Caesar of the Holy City, Keteludra, speaks thus."

「——」

Is it a mistake to seek an encounter in the dungeon?

"Her dying smile, gazing at me with tear‑filled eyes."

Just a few words fully capture Hesi Yin's nearly shattered heart at that moment. Liruka sees it in her eyes, feeling only a heavy blockage in her chest, and can only let out a sigh:

"Alas, even to the end, one must choose to lie beside Keteludra in solitude, Hesi Yin… Hesi Yin…"

Beside her, Hestia's nose tip reddened; she could not bear such a tale of misplaced regret, tears welling as she looked at Bell, gripping his hand tightly: "Bell! If one day you're gone, I too will remain alone—"

"Hold it—! O Great One!" Bell jumped in surprise, quickly stopping Hestia's lovesick outburst: "No need for that; I'm still doing just fine! Besides, at least Oraeli is far safer than Ophyrus in terms of security."

No gods demanding blood sacrifices of kin will appear, nor will there be unstoppable monsters like the black tide. Although each foray into the dungeon brings unpredictable risks, compared to Ophyrus—a world of despair so extreme one can barely breathe—Bell already feels quite satisfied.

"Honestly, Bell just can't read the room!" Hestia's eyes were still red, but her face now showed a hint of annoyed pouting: "You shouldn't be saying such cool lines at a time like this."

"More, more handsome words?" Bell looked a bit bewildered.

"For example, "O Great One, I will never let you be alone," and then hugging me tightly—things like that."

Liruka silently set down her teacup: "Lady Hestia, you're not even pretending anymore."

"Liruka, shut up!"

「——」

"Who will win?"

"The fanatical followers of the Wisdom Star God, or the king's wise strategy that commands the pieces to triumph over heaven?"

"The ape‑like monsters of the Yuanjiu Forest, the resurrected emperor's iron armaments, and the haughty visage of the divine rites official—all vanish upon the chessboard."

"In the name of Ophyrus, I shall grant blind faith freedom."

"The king stands before the inorganic throne, driving his scepter into the god‑emperor's eyeless socket. The heavenly honored gods shall fall like Titans, and she vows to seize the honor of conquering the star sea."

「……」

"Who will win?"

"The undying followers of the Abundance Star God, or the gale surging from the player's fingertips?"

"Infantry hunt down flying birds, cavalry trample packs of wolves. War chariots crush giant trees, the queen beheads the plague of longevity."

"In the name of Ophyrus, I shall grant eternal life as eternal rest."

"The immortal vessel presents the gift of azure waves; the king bestows upon his loyal sword‑banner, causing her sorrowful face to show a rare smile."

「……」

"Who will win?"

"The raging war tide of the Destruction Star God, or the empress's invincible army peak?"

"Before the might of the annihilated star sea, neither king nor his subjects retreat even a moment. They seek to prove that their golden blood shines brighter than that of the gods."

"In the name of Ophyrus, I shall grant destruction as destruction."

The king's fire seed replaces the destructive blaze, the soldiers drink the golden blood of the burdened creator god. She has hunted down the source of tragedy, once again seizing the crown of fate.

——

Jujutsu Kaisen.

Before, I always had a doubt: if the universe will eventually head toward destruction, then 'destruction' shouldn't be the only path leading to this outcome. Riche Kuanjian slowly raised his head and said, "'Knowledge' has already proven more than once to us that it can be even more dangerous than 'destruction'. Besides, 'Abundance' can also grow into a disaster for the universe, 'Gluttony', 'Proliferation'...... In theory, there are many paths in the universe that could lead to 'the end'."

Unrestrained 'Abundance' will only cause the universe's population to explode, and coupled with its characteristic of being hard to kill and exterminate, Riche Kuanjian even believes that, given enough time, 'Abundance' could also trigger a crisis no less than a universal locust plague.

Yui Itto nodded: 'Indeed, each of those geniuses has the ability to change the universe. But slaughter isn't their main goal; it's a byproduct of moving toward their goal... in other words, something done incidentally.'

As for 'Destruction', this path is the most straightforward, its goal written openly. If we say destruction is an 'open spear', then knowledge and abundance are 'hidden arrows', hardest to guard against. Especially knowledge... fortunately, the geniuses beside Black Tower Lady are relatively normal.

Yui Itto's words carried a hint of relief.

In his view, within the Knowledge faction, those who have made outstanding contributions to the universe's stability are Black Tower and Bo'erka; the former is a sane and conscientious envoy among the geniuses, while the latter has repeatedly pulled the universe back from the brink.

I don't know if we can pull it back from Zan da'er's hands this time. If we can't...... Bo'erka herself might also die in the hands of the Iron Tomb.

——

Who will win?

Is it the radiance of the myriad exalted gods beyond the heavens, or the spark of prairie fire in Kaisa's heart?

The fury of the stars surges forward, crashing against the borders of the Milky Way Empire. All major factions will invade her territory, longing to reclaim their former glory.

"In the name of Weng Faluosi......"

Stellar wind scatters the enemy's ashes, and golden blood coalesces once again into familiar inscriptions. The King of the Infinite Universe raises the law, proclaiming to the boundless lands——

"I will conquer the heavens, and all stars shall be vassal states."

Kaisa chuckled lightly, tossing out the last chess piece; the earlier frenzy dissipated between the board. She swept her sleeve, clearing the imaginary formations, and caught sight of rust already forming on the throne.

On the eve of the king's march toward destiny, a grand dream of conquering the Star Sea remains. When the day comes, she will become a chess piece, so that the dream of drama may retain a sliver of possibility——

"This generation's chess game is about to conclude, but in the distant future......"

For the blazing ambition, for the thirty million generations' quest for fire, for Kaisa's country and myriad peoples.

Who will win?

Kaisa raised the king's piece in her hand.

"I will win. Weng Faluosi will win."