Chapter 467: You Are Him

But soon, the black skull responded:

"Did you remember part of it, or is there another reason?"

The black skull was extraordinary; after a moment's thought, it deduced the likely truth: Wang Zun had not known them before, yet now recognized their identities by name—this contradiction suggested he had recovered part of his memory.

Yet, considering their understanding of Wang Zun, the matter might not be so simple.

In their eyes, Wang Zun's thoughts were hard to fathom; if they were easy to guess, they would never have chosen to believe in him and stand by him without hesitation.

While the two skulls speculated, Wang Zun was speculating too.

The two skulls seemed unaware of what had happened in the outside world.

Otherwise, they would not have reacted this way; the Departed and the First Divine Spirit were the most mysterious and invincible beings known to them.

Setting aside their identities, merely considering their power: one was at least Supreme, very likely having transcended the Supreme and achieved the Unique; the other, with no Unique one standing, was unbeaten in this age—calling them the supreme power of the world was not an exaggeration.

Such power was known throughout all heavens and worlds.

If the two skulls knew the state of the outside world, they should have known—yet they spoke those words earlier.

"I don't remember knowing you; I only know your identities. There are legends about you in the outside world."

Wang Zun did not fully reveal that they were characters he had created; even though they recognized him and seemed to have an unusual connection with him.

Always keep a backup plan; never trust too deeply, especially these two, who remained only as skulls in this strange, ruined City of the Dead—who knew if they were deceiving him?

As for why they wanted him to trust them, there were many reasons—perhaps they intended to possess his body.

As a Supreme, they could not fail to see his strength, nor his current age.

Given that he had reached Immortality at such a young age, while they remained as skulls, looking no different from the dead—who knew if they might attempt possession or some other scheme?

"Oh? Legends? My existence and the Divine Spirit's have been completely erased; no one in the world could possibly know of us—except you and that person."

The black skull looked at Wang Zun and continued:

"That person spreading word of me and the Divine Spirit makes no sense. Even spreading the Divine Spirit alone might be tolerable, but he would never spread word of me—he wishes me dead."

Eliminating that person, only you remain—you are the one who spread the tales of me and the Divine Spirit.

I'm suddenly very curious: you claim you don't remember knowing us, only recall our deeds—why then did you spread our stories? It seems to offer you no benefit, unless you meant to use us to intimidate others, or to leverage our legends for your own ends."

No wonder he was once a player of the game—the black skull's reasoning was meticulous, instantly uncovering Wang Zun's flaw.

This wasn't because Wang Zun was careless or had been exposed—it was simply that he didn't know the Departed and the Divine Spirit held such secrets.

For a moment, Wang Zun was curious.

Who was "that person"?

Wang Zun faintly guessed who "that person" might be—perhaps the other player in the game.

Thinking of this, Wang Zun spoke plainly:

"Yes, it was indeed I who spread your legends."

They had already deduced this much; they were certain in their minds. Hiding further was meaningless—it would be like a thief crying "Thief!" and only make things worse.

As he spoke, Wang Zun hesitated slightly:

"You know me so well—why then do I not remember you, only your deeds? And why are you waiting here for me? Also… I have a peculiar impression: two terrifying beings who treat all life as chess pieces. I call them 'Him' and the other player—could this impression be correct?"

Since the two skulls knew him, he might as well ask now whether his guess was right—so he wouldn't have to keep wondering if "Him" and the other player truly existed.

As Wang Zun spoke the words "Him" and "the other player," the two skulls showed a subtle change.

Though they were only bones, lacking flesh and facial expression, Wang Zun knew they had changed.

You could see that when Kamikawa Mitsu spoke of another player, the two skull bones showed a faint anomaly.

"Your impression is correct," said the white skull, its weak voice carrying a grave seriousness.

Even with preparation, Wang Zun was shaken.

He had been right: "Him" and the other player truly existed—his nearly hopeless guess was true.

"To be honest, even I'm curious now: what did you do to know of Him and the other player, to know of us, yet not remember who you are?" said the white skull.

"Too bad you kept everything secret back then—though it makes sense. Secrets are easier to protect the fewer who know them, and easier to succeed without that person discovering them," said the black skull.

Hearing this, Wang Zun stared at them: "You don't know? Then why are you waiting here for me? Tell me—who was I, according to you?"

He had long suspected he had a past life—the Wang Zun these two skulls knew must have been his past self, not the present one.

Of course, he was not afraid to learn of his past life.

He was still himself; even if he learned everything of his past, he would remain himself, unchanged, not ruled by past memories, not becoming his past self—he would only be Wang Zun, who had transmigrated into Kamikawa Mitsu, and now was Kamikawa Mitsu!

Similar flowers are always only similar—they are never the same flower; at most, they carry extra memories.

"We are waiting here for you because you told us to—you said that after you achieved Immortality, you would come, and then you would no longer lose this game," said the black skull.

Similar flowers are always only similar, never the same blossom—at most, they carry a little more memory.

"We wait here for you because you told us to, saying that when you achieve immortality, you will come—and then, in this game, you will never lose again," said the black skull.

Wait—what does "this game you will no longer lose" mean?

"This game"? It must refer to the game—the game the Departed spoke of was not mere chess, but another kind of "game": one where all life are pieces and the world is the board!

Why on earth had he become entangled in this game?

This game? It refers to the board game—yet the game the departed spoke of was surely not mere chess; it must mean another kind of "game," one where all living beings are the pieces and the world itself is the board!

Suddenly, Wang Zun recalled a crucial detail he had overlooked: he had focused only on knowing these two and recognizing their power, but never asked how he, a mere mortal, could possibly know such powerful beings.

Or how he could make such powerful beings wait here for him.

Just as an ant cannot command a human, if he were merely someone who knew them, he could never compel them to wait here for him.

And made two such powerful beings wait here for him.

Wang Zun grasped a possibility so shocking it shook him to his core.

Unless...

Kamikawa Mitsu thought of a earth-shattering possibility.

At that moment, the white skull's words came forth.

"The words of the departed—I believe you have already guessed who you are. You have not guessed wrong: you are He."

……

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