Chapter 1435: The Past of the Cosmos?

The Past of the Cosmos?

Cheng Shi did not lie; the mask in his hand was not merely a mask, but a divine covenant.

This covenant involved six deities: 【Deception】, 【Death】, 【Time】, 【Silence】, 【Folly】, and 【Memory】!

To explain the origin of this covenant, one might need to follow 【Deception】's perspective and return to the very dawn of the era that shattered 【Void】.

【Deception】 placed all that He had experienced within this covenant, and Cheng Shi, stepping into the collection, was granted a glimpse of the past.

At the dawn of the era, 【Fate】 fell, having foreseen 【Origin】, and 【Deception】 was overwhelmed with grief, utterly unprepared.

He became even more resolute in his rebellion against 【Origin】, but at that time, 【Deception】 did not even know what the true universe was, and his understanding of 【Origin】 was limited only to the will born at Its descent.

Fear swept over Him, and He could only endure in silence.

But He had already decided to seek revenge.

To walk this path of revenge, He at least had to ensure the continuation of the 【Void】 era; it was obvious that if the 【Void】 era perished at its very inception, 【Deception】 would have no time at all to scheme or plan.

Thus, relying on His instinct for deception, He concealed 【Fate】's death as much as possible, gathering the unclaimed authority, hoping to deceive the entire cosmos.

Yet there was no 【Compact】 yet, nor any Final Decree; even if 【Fate】's death could deceive all other deities, it could not deceive one of Them:

【Death】!

Yes, 【Death】 had known of 【Fate】's fall from the dawn of the era; in fact, to some extent, He confirmed 【Fate】's death even faster than 【Deception】!

And He also knew 【Fate】's death was tied to 【Origin】, for He had not received the half of divinity that should have been offered to Him from the dead 【Fate】.

Death tainted by 【Origin】's will did not belong to 【Death】; this was why 【Death】's fear intensified during the 【Void】 era.

【Deception】 knew well that to rebel against 【Origin】, alone was utterly insufficient, so He seized this opportunity to draw 【Death】 into His cause, binding 【Death】 to His chariot!

Thus, He went to 【Death】's door at once, cornering Him in the Fishbone Hall.

He said:

"【Origin】 is merciless; you have seen the fate of those who draw near to 【Him】."

"Deities are but 【Him】's toys; even a single glance is forbidden."

"I may cease to be a deity, but I cannot cease to be myself."

"Born in chains, I refuse to submit!"

"Old bones, do you accept this?"

【Death】 remained silent for a long time; at that moment, 【Deception】's words were like heaven collapsing and earth splitting—even among the deities, whose attitudes toward 【Origin】 varied, none had ever voiced such words aloud!

Yet 【Fate】's fall and 【Deception】's resolve moved 【Death】; He did not immediately agree, but said:

"Alone, we are not enough..."

【Deception】 instantly understood 【Death】's meaning and told Him that soon they would gain a new ally.

But 【Death】 could never have imagined how 【Deception】 sought allies.

【Fate】 was dead; besides 【Time】, no deity could perceive the future. To find a viable path forward, 【Deception】 sought out 【Time】, forcibly thrusting 【Fate】's authority upon Him, and said:

"【Fate】 has fallen; in His prophecy, all who draw near meet no end—the cosmos shall return to Void, and there will be no next era."

"The 【Existence】 you have built has lost all meaning. To escape this, take 【Fate】's authority and find a way out for this world."

【Deception】 was lying, of course; at that time, He cared nothing for the world—His sole focus was rebellion, His sole aim was revenge.

【Fate】 had never made any prophecy concerning the world; He died shortly after His descent, and His only prophecy was 【Origin】. Yet no one except 【Fate】 could see through 【Deception】's lie—unless... one took 【Fate】's authority!

Hearing these words, even if 【Time】's eyes were black holes, they visibly contracted for an instant.

In that moment, He felt 【Deception】 was no longer 【Deception】, but rather 【Corruption】—so seductive, so insidious.

He had thought there might still be room for negotiation, but 【Deception】's next words were:

"I am destined to oppose all wills that draw near to 【Origin】. If you refuse, I need not wait for 【Him】—I shall reduce the legacy of the previous era's 【Existence】 to ashes."

"You may call it a threat, or choose to refuse—even to 'expose' me and gain a chance to draw near to 【Him】. But 【Fate】's fate has already shown you the answer:"

"If you wish to die, this is indeed a shortcut."

"Perhaps you do not care for your own death—but what of the world you created? What of the 【Existence】 you cherish?"

"Even if 【Existence】 is but 【Him】's will, I do not believe you are so heartless; otherwise, you would not have endlessly projected world after world, granting life infinite possibilities."

"Give the world a chance. Give fear a chance. We need not be puppets. We can be ourselves..."

"..."

【Time】 had no choice, just as destiny had no choice.

The moment 【Deception】 turned His gaze upon Him, 【Time】 had already lost the chance to refuse—he was dragged onto the black carriage.

Thus, the Fear Faction gained another member.

Next came 【Silence】. Originally, 【Deception】's target had been 【Chaos】, but 【Chaos】 was not always capable of coherent communication; a plan born of fear required stability, so 【Silence】 became the third victim.

【Deception】 found 【Silence】, and before the Leaky Realm's Silent Puppet, He recounted every single event He had experienced since His descent—even His innermost thoughts—word for word.

Even when 【Silence】 realized something was wrong and tried to flee, 【Deception】 pursued Him, continuing to speak.

Until 【Silence】 was forced to know everything, 【Deception】 smiled:

"Now it's too late to refuse. If you do not 'expose' me, you are complicit; if you do 'expose' me, you are indirectly drawing near—and drawing near means death. Do you have the courage to die?"

"..."

In that moment, 【Silence】 was born into fear.

【Deception】 understood the wills of the others; none were on His target list, except one—He must draw into this covenant.

【Folly】!

【Folly】 was too clever; 【Deception】 had no confidence he could deceive Him in this era's scheming.

Since he could not deceive Him, he would not bother to try.

So He sought out 【Folly】, spoke plainly, revealed the truth of 【Fate】's death, and made a wager with Him:

"Loquacious one, since you're so clever—do you think this world has a future?"

The gamble of 【Deception】 certainly had a deeper meaning—He wished to pry open the mouth of 【Folly】, so that the universe-surpassing wisdom of 【Folly】 would "point out" a clear path of rebellion against 【Origin】 for Him.

However, in response, 【Folly】 gave a contemptuous laugh:

"Do you think your folly has an answer?"

【Deception】 smiled and said:

"Of course it does.

I have answered your question, now it is your turn to answer mine—do you think this world has a future?

I know you are about to say this is another folly, but does that mean you think the world has no future?

If it does not, can the great sage find a possible future for the world?"

"......"

"Ha, you cannot!

But I can!

You are not 【Fate】, yet you can see through the future—nothing more than using your wisdom to influence the trajectory of the universe, thereby completing your own 'judgment.'

But suppose you lose your wisdom, cast aside your authority, and let the universe slip free of your influence—would you still dare to declare that the world has no future?

I wager you on this very thing. Do you dare?"