Chapter 1172: Mo Shu's World Crumbles

Mo Shu's world collapsed.

Among the gods, there has always been scheming and backstabbing, each trying to outmaneuver the other.

To seize one another's authority, They had fought each other for who knows how long, so in Herobos's view, suffering this "insult" before 【Deceit】 was utterly trivial.

Compared to that divine throne, what were a few cold taunts?

The only thing that unsettled Him was that 【Deceit】 had named a specific 【Annihilation】 vessel to be left for the Fool's Play; He had to guard against 【Void】 trying to use this to seize His position—after all, tricksters were far too cunning.

But then again, if this "usurpation" deal had come only from the Fool's Play, Herobos would truly have been uneasy. Yet once 【Deceit】 also relented and was willing to take a share of the spoils, then this matter really did look like it could succeed.

Regardless, since this step had been taken, He ought to make some preparations for taking over the divine throne.

Herobos summoned Mo Shu to a hidden corner of some annihilated world. Looking at the bewildered believer before Him, He reined in His coldness and forced a smile:

"I know you have many doubts, but the time to reveal all has not yet come.

Changes will rise again among the gods, and these changes may reach the mortals, but you may rest assured—so long as you are my believer, I will shelter you myself."

【Annihilation】 had not yet "abdicated," so Herobos dared not speak too plainly, but the phrase "my believer" clearly still caught Mo Shu's attention.

He frowned, thinking that Herobos, my lord, had always kept the Benefactor's name on his lips, mentioning the Benefactor in every matter—why was it that today, speaking of the gods, there was no mention of the Benefactor?

He dared not press further, could only nod in assent, and asked about Cheng Shi. At the mention of Cheng Shi, Herobos's tone grew complicated:

"Set aside the matter of the oracle for now. Do not make a move against him recently."

"What!?

Why?

Could it be that the Benefactor truly has a problem!?"

Mo Shu's pupils contracted sharply, his whole body tensing.

Herobos snorted, shook his head, and said:

"He has no problem whatsoever, and is closer to the true will of 【Annihilation】 than ever before.

We should cheer for Him, not weep.

As for you... walk steadily upon the path of 【Annihilation】, and go prove your devotion—that is enough.

If you meet believers as devout as yourself, tell them too: the oracle is void, pay it no heed, and do not ask about it."

Hearing this, Mo Shu felt as if five thunderbolts had struck his head.

"Do not ask" clearly meant do not ask the Benefactor. He could tell this seemed to be Herobos, my lord, privately defying the Benefactor's oracle—but as to why...

He dared not ask, nor dared to know.

Open strife and covert struggle among the gods was an accepted fact among players, but Mo Shu had never imagined that one day this struggle would appear within the ranks of the faithful!

What had come over Herobos, my lord? Could He have been bewitched by that Fate-Weaver!?

It was not impossible!

The moment Skeleton Skull Xiaoqiang saw him, he became his ally; the shunned sisters surnamed Zhen had also grown close to him; let alone the fact that in this trial, even the Ascetic Monk and that Purgatory Bishop were willing to fight for him!

What gave him the right!?

He was only a Fate-Weaver—at best a jester—and not a Sin, so what gave him the right to plant in everyone the desire to draw near him!?

Mo Shu felt his world had collapsed. He looked toward Herobos wanting an explanation, but the words reached his lips and would not come out.

How could he ask? He couldn't exactly ask, "What benefits did the Fate-Weaver promise you?"—that would be too absurd.

What benefit could a mortal offer a divine emissary?

He was already below the true gods and above all the realms—what benefit could make a lesser god willing to risk blasphemy by defying a true god's will to shelter him?

He couldn't possibly have promised Herobos, my lord, a true god's seat, could he!?

How utterly absurd.

Seeing the shifting expressions on Mo Shu's face, Herobos offered no further explanation. In the end, no matter how special, Mo Shu was still only a devout and somewhat capable mortal.

There were many such believers; He was not irreplaceable.

It was merely that at this moment of faith's transition, such devout believers were useful for consolidating divine authority, so He had specially summoned him to show divine grace.

Once divine authority was secured, perhaps the new 【Annihilation】 should also have a new "Chosen." Of course, that would also depend on whether the old Chosen's devotion might bring something new.

Herobos cast a meaningful glance at Mo Shu, and His figure gradually faded into nothingness.

Mo Shu stood where he was, his face dark, feeling that at this moment he was the true jester.

In the first clash, he lost his substitute; sent to kill, he sacrificed a teammate...

After much difficulty, he had finally gained a divine emissary at his side—only for the emissary to tell him he could no longer make a move against the other party!

What gives!!!

Not only was the divine oracle being defied in private, but the emissary and the Benefactor even seemed to have begun infighting.

Is this what 【Annihilation】 is?

Then what exactly is being annihilated—could it be my devotion to 【Annihilation】!?

What meaning does such an 【Annihilation】 have!?

On the other side, Cheng Shi, who had returned to the trial, was still found by the Torchbearers. Fortunately, it was Ji Yue who came, not Chen Shu.

Seeing Ji Yue's solemn face, afraid enemies lurked all around, Cheng Shi waved a hand, signaling her to be at ease.

"It's already been dealt with," he said with a smile.

"Dealt with?"

Ji Yue's eyes went wide. "You killed Mo Shu—alone?"

Cheng Shi curled his lip, sighed, and said:

"Uh... didn't kill him. Seeing how pathetic he was, I left him his miserable life.

After all, eating from someone shuts you up, and I've eaten his cake—didn't pay, so I ought to give something back.

A worthless life, but worth a couple bites of cake."

Ji Yue listened, blinked in a daze, then snorted a laugh and said:

"You think I believe that?

Out with it, what mischief are you cooking up now? You know perfectly well they're targeting you on purpose — how could you possibly let him off?

I know you're a good person, but your 'goodness' isn't that kind.

A Torchbearer lives by the rule of revenge — the only reason you'd let him go is if you're playing the long game to catch a bigger fish.

You didn't turn Mo Shu and try to use him to infiltrate that Jieshu's team and wipe them out from the inside, did you?"

"?"

Did you read my script?

Cheng Shi stared at Ji Yue suspiciously, feeling this Torchbearer's intuition was startlingly sharp.

Sure enough, he really did have that plan.

Before Luo Luo Bosi's "usurpation" plan failed, out of regard for their cooperation, he couldn't lay a hand on Mo Shu — but not acting didn't mean he couldn't collect some interest.

Since this Jieshu knew certain things and was making a fuss over his identity, Cheng Shi naturally wanted to investigate, and letting Mo Shu go this time counted as an opportunity.

Wherever there's a circle, there are connections — using Mo Shu to get inside was a clever move.

Whether tempting him with secrets or moving him with sentiment, Cheng Shi now had plenty of cards to play against Mo Shu, which meant a new tool had just been born.

He had never told anyone any of this, so the fact that Ji Yue could guess so much meant he'd been in contact with the Torchbearer too much lately, and his mind had been seen through.

Time for a round of "letting go."

Cheng Shi pursed his lips, didn't respond to Ji Yue, and stiffly changed the subject:

"【War】 doesn't shelter Its believers every moment either — rein in that temper of yours, or you'll run into serious trouble later.

That's it, Chen Shu's coming, I don't want to see him, I'm out of here."

Saying so, Cheng Shi pointed behind Ji Yue.

Ji Yue was still puzzling over how Chen Shu had taken the same path as him, and the moment he turned his head he realized something was off — when he turned back, there was no sign of Cheng Shi at all.

"..."

Why avoid suspicion like avoiding evil?

Ji Yue sighed helplessly, silently wiped away the remaining traces for the Fate-Weaver — since he didn't want to be found, let him go on his own.

After finishing all this, when he looked up again he found Chen Shu had really arrived, though the man's expression was awfully strange. Ji Yue couldn't help but ask in confusion:

"What's wrong with you?"

Chen Shu's mouth twitched slightly, and he forced a laugh: "I don't know anything."

"?"

Ji Yue frowned.

How is everyone stranger than the last?