Chapter 1302: Save Him!

Save Him!

That's right — what Qin Xin shattered was not the Outer God's scheme, but the shackles the 【Iron Law of Order】 had placed on Cheng Shi!

He certainly knew that, at this moment, every god and person present should unite against the common enemy and tackle the greatest difficulty before them first, but he knew even better that the 【Iron Law of Order】's judgment would push the "Answer of the World" away from this world!

The Weaver of Fate may seem to compromise everywhere, but anyone who knows him knows he has never been a pushover — like a true Fire-Bearer, he has always resisted every oppression laid upon him.

At this most critical moment, Qin Xin could not let the "order" of the 【Iron Law of Order】 become the folly that buried all hope of every world.

Therefore, this arrow of his was utterly decisive.

The flames answered with a violent roar, swelling without wind, and in an instant devoured Cheng Shi along with the Judgment Throne.

Seeing this, the flying pages of the 【Iron Law of Order】 faltered all at once. It glared at Qin Xin with boundless fury and said in a stern voice:

"【War】, proxy!

It was you who invited me here, claiming you would defend the order of the cosmos with your death!

For this I persuaded 【Justice (Order)】, and did not hesitate to convene the Covenant Assembly of All Gods, breaking the Outer God's lock on the Void — yet you have actually turned your spear against me!?

Your enemy is the Outer God, not me — why strike at your only ally!

Has the decline of 【Civilization】 in the past still not served as your warning!?"

Qin Xin shook his head, drew his bow and nocked an arrow once more:

"I know who my enemy is, but I do not know who my ally is!

You never once told me you were not 【Order】!

【Chaos】?

What a fine 【Chaos】!

If you are 【Chaos】, how can I be sure how you will treat the Answer of the World, or believe you truly act for the order of the cosmos?

I don't know where the true 【Order】 has gone, but from this moment on, I, Qin Xin, Envoy of 【War】, subordinate god of 【Civilization】, am willing to take 【Order】's place and temporarily become the new order!"

These words were practically the greatest provocation against 【Order】 — don't forget, there was more than one 【Order】 present!

Even 【Fear (Order)】 curled up in a corner, watching the Judgment Throne devoured by flames, projecting itself into that scene, growing ever more afraid.

【Justice (Order)】 still said nothing — just as the Outer God had said, when It shielded the 【Iron Law of Order】's actions and did not curb its influence on the Assembly, Its impartiality had long since taken a side.

It chose to side with this world.

But the 【Iron Law of Order】, upon hearing these words, was clearly enraged — the pages of Its codex flipped wildly, and the power of 【Order】 spilled out in all directions.

"Absurd! How can you lend credence to the words of an Outer God?

I am 【Order】 — the sole 【Order】 of the cosmos!

I represent 【Origin】's greatest hope for this starry sky, the anchor of civilization, the sum of all that is ordered!

All that I have done is worthy of my divine name. The fact that the Clown has thrown the cosmos into chaos is indisputable — no matter what, he should be judged, and then use his own destiny to atone for his crimes!

That is his path, and the order of the cosmos!"

"Bullshit!"

Before Qin Xin could react, Hong Lin could hold back no longer — she cursed the 【Iron Law of Order】 outright.

No — not just the 【Iron Law of Order】. In this likely final Covenant Assembly of All Gods, the big cat that had been feigning sleep finally became a "wide-awake tiger," and launched into a furious tirade against every god present.

"So obsessed you've gone mad, so rigid it's sickening!

It's precisely because you gods only care about your own faith, only care about your own will, never bow your heads, and forever look down on life — that's why you've been led around by the nose by the Outer God!

The Weaver of Fate is an extremely grateful person — his father adopted him, and he remembered that kindness for a lifetime. 【Fraud】 sheltered him; even though he wasn't sure where 【Fraud】's goodwill came from, and fear of the Fear Faction grew in his heart, he was still willing to follow 【Fraud】 forward!

Such straightforward goodwill was enough to 'trick' a Weaver of Fate — why couldn't you gods do the same?

Is it because you don't know how to deceive?

No!

It's because you simply have no goodwill at all!

I've seen through it — gods are gods, you have no feelings, you only see faith, you only have will!

But we are different — human faith is emotion and friendship!

Since we're all going to die anyway — ha, let go of my friend, let me go first!"

Before the words had faded, a figure swift as the wind roared and charged into the violent flames where the power of 【War】 and the power of 【Order】 clashed and intertwined!

In the span of a Zha Yan De Gong, the big cat, her whole body scorched, burst out of the flames carrying the pitch-black Cheng Shi on her back. Her resolute face was written full of the will to beg life for her friend, and the fear of facing the gods' collective gaze was gone for good.

But destiny was not so easy to save. Seeing this, the Outer God 【Fate】 gave a heavy snort, and an invisible storm of nothingness rose from nowhere, sweeping toward the big cat.

It knew Cheng Shi was not injured — this follower of Its had too many thoughts; right now he was feigning collapse, and who knew what trick he was plotting again.

But no matter what he wanted to do, destiny was destiny — it could not be escaped, nor erased.

"Before the storm of time and space arrives, I have no objection to watching one more clown circus — consider it the world's farewell performance. No matter how you resist, struggle, or rebel, in the end you will know that only I am right.

And only I can save this world.

But pity — before the true answer is revealed, there are always a few who think themselves clever, who neither deserve nor can endure until that moment.

The number of gods I can save is not many — among those present, not a single one."

【Fate】's tone grew colder still. It looked at Cheng Shi once more and said in a low, eerie voice:

"You still have one last chance. Even if not for this world, then for the sake of your so-called friends — I pardon your blasphemy, I pity your confusion, and I give you one opportunity to return to the righteous path of 【Fate】. Do not persist in your delusion..."

Cheng Shi, sprawled on the big cat's back, did not move at all — he merely raised a middle finger toward those pitiless eyes.

"**!"

Then he burst into laughter, patted the big cat, and said:

"Hong Lin, this time we might really die."

The big cat's gaze hardened — a flicker of sorrow first passed through her eyes, then was instantly replaced by resolve:

"If there's no escape, if the road ahead has no continuation, then let me die first. Use my corpse as a stepping stone — perhaps you can still find the path to the other shore..."

If that path truly exists, survive, and if possible, bring Little Yi along and survive together!"

Cheng Shi's hand, which had been reaching toward the big cat, suddenly tightened. Just as he was about to say something, the big cat said in a low, firm voice:

"Cheng Shi, this is the last wish of my life. Don't let me leave you all with regrets."

"......"

Just as despairing grief spread through the air, the flames of 【War】 once more roared to life across the starry sky.

Qin Xin gathered all his divine power, activated the full authority of 【War】, and once more displayed to the world the unyielding will of 【War】.

Crimson flames scattered in all directions, melting the heavens and scorching the earth.

He drew the great bow to its full, stood amid the fires, raised his head, and shouted aloud:

"It's still far too early to be making funeral arrangements!

Outer gods are still gods. So long as they are deities, there will always come a time they fall. Have we not seen enough of it already!

Brace yourselves! Submission has never been resistance — war is!

And the rest of you — 【Nurture】, 【Decay】, 【Order】, 【Memory】... and those Command-Bearers of the subordinate gods who sit waiting to die — do you really think that watching from the sidelines will spare you from the fall of an era?

How foolish!

You gods who, even at this moment, still believe the outer gods can save the world — do you truly think the ways of the outer gods can rescue our world!?

He has already failed once. What makes you think a second time He will succeed!?

He dragged the world into the abyss of darkness, not toward a bright future.

The road to the future is one we fight for ourselves. Even a mortal like me understands that. You all......

Puh—"

Qin Xin's impassioned speech had not yet finished when he was sent flying straight out by a piercing wind of nothingness.

Under the protection of 【War】's authority, the fresh blood spraying from his mouth only made the flames around him burn fiercer. After tumbling to the ground, he once more drew the bow without the slightest hesitation.

This successor of 【War】 was indeed unyielding. Every move he made was like fighting 【Fate】 to the bitter end. He was putting his will into practice with his own body, but it seemed the only one who acknowledged this will was himself.

Even with his rallying cry, the surrounding gods remained unmoved.

They seemed to have believed the outer god's bewitchment. Each one hesitated, and the looks they cast toward Qin Xin and Cheng Shi were each complicated in their own way.

"Ha, hahaha......"

Cheng Shi finally sat up straight. He knew pretense was useless, so he simply let himself loose, pointing at the gods filling the sky as he spoke:

"Everyone told me becoming a god was the only answer.

But now, you all tell me that gods... are this sort of thing?

Then what's the point of me becoming a god? What's the point of having this answer!?

Whoever wants to be that 'predestined one,' be my guest. I — am done being it!"

As he spoke, Cheng Shi suddenly took out the 【Deceit】 vessel in his hand, raised it high, and shouted with all his might toward the flowing-light scales of justice hanging in the firmament:

"I, the Walker of 【Nothingness】, the Command-Bearer of 【Deceit】, Fool's Play, demand that under the witness of 【Justice (Order)】, I succeed to the authority of the fallen god 【Deceit】!"

His voice was wild, and all the gods were shocked.

【Fate】's gaze grew colder. 【Justice (Order)】 offered no comment. Fool's Play's identity had not been granted by the current world's 【Deceit】, and so naturally he could not receive a response from 【Justice (Order)】.

At this moment of the outer god's invasion, for the sake of order, He might have wished to show partiality, but rules were rules — He could not break them, nor would He break them.

Thus the scene fell into a deadlock.

And just as every mortal and god present was drawn in by Cheng Shi's shout, a terrifying flood of divine power suddenly descended, and countless white bones fluttered down like rain.

The chattering little skulls of days past now fell silent one and all. Before the gods they scattered and piled up, forming a ghastly-white bone throne, welcoming the arrival of that great lord named 【Death】.

The great skull had arrived. The first words upon His descent were a challenge to the outer god 【Fate】.

"You. Can. Guarantee. This. World. Is. Safe?"