Chapter 956

Plan Step One: Kill Yourself First

“Vice-Chairman Sun, have you ever considered that on a battlefield with such overwhelming odds, even excluding the combat power of the Tower of Reason, the Grand Inquisition could still crush the War Legion through sheer human wave tactics, trading lives for ground...”

Yet they still lost.

So if it were you, how exactly would you lose a battle that should have been an absolute victory?”

I’m not asking for some deep-rooted reason—I’m asking about the war itself.”

Sun Miao had certainly thought about it; victories against overwhelming odds weren’t unheard of, but the disparity couldn’t be too extreme.

Though he didn’t know the specific details of this battle, reverse-engineering from its outcome, the Nation of War had founded itself on the blood of countless knights of the Grand Inquisition and countless scholars of the Tower of Reason—it must have shattered the entire frontline.

But given their current troop numbers, that was pure fantasy.

So the answer is obvious: either internal strife erupted between the two encircling nations, turning them against each other until both were exhausted; or the united front’s own attack backfired, giving the War Legion a sliver of opportunity.

Coupled with Kynlaur’s “no destruction, no rebirth” philosophy, this Supreme Inquisitor likely intended to deliver a heavy blade to excise the deep-seated rot of the Grand Inquisition—and that meant the latter was far more likely than the former...

“You mean...” Sun Miao’s tone grew subtle, “Kynlaur didn’t just allow the Grand Inquisition’s defeat—he actively pushed it along?”

“Precisely. Do you find this history thrilling?”

“If it were true, it would indeed be thrilling—but all this is still just our speculation, not fact.”

“Then make it true.” Cheng Shi grinned.

“?”

“You said history is painted by people. If anyone can add a brushstroke, why can’t we be the ones holding the brush?”

Besides, we’re not changing history’s direction—just accelerating its pace, like Xiao Qi did.”

Since the poor Knights of Order are destined to die at the hands of the ‘New Order,’ why not be kind and kill them before Kynlaur does, easing this old man’s guilt?”

That way, we preserve history’s trajectory while enabling my plan.”

“...”

Sun Miao wasn’t a fool—he recognized this as the “standard” solution of the [Deception] faithful—but what concerned him was how to control the degree of interference.

If Cheng Shi’s plan intervened too heavily in the battlefield, the historical truth they sought would be buried forever beneath the ashes of war, never to resurface.

So he frowned and asked: “How exactly do you plan to do it?”

Cheng Shi looked at the container in his hand and laughed heartily:

“I once fled in terror beneath the meteor firestorm. Now that I’m free from fear, I want to relive that dream—to witness one of the most terrifying forbidden arts on the Continent of Hope.”

“?” Sun Miao’s pupils contracted. “You want to fake Kynlaur’s orders and summon the meteor firestorm onto the Grand Inquisition’s battle formation?”

“Not fake. Reveal the true history.”

“A history that’s been erased is still history. As long as no one else knows, the story you tell becomes the true historical truth.”

You’ll be the sole witness, Vice-Chairman Sun.”

And you yourself said Kynlaur meant exactly this—so we’re not erasing history, merely... pre-drawing it.”

“What’s the justification? The Element Judges won’t blindly obey such absurd orders.”

“Isn’t the justification simple?” Cheng Shi spread his hands. “Traitors have appeared in the rear, colluding with the War Legion for a pincer attack. To ensure absolute security behind the frontline, isn’t it reasonable to cleanse the ground first with a meteor firestorm?”

Hearing this, Sun Miao’s focus shifted entirely from the battlefield to the bait in Cheng Shi’s hand.

This near-suicidal maneuver wasn’t about restoring some “historical truth”—its real purpose was to throw out his bait and lure the Beast Tamer.

That’s why the Weaver of Fate insisted on plausibility: only a reasonable motive could deceive Du Qiyu. Yes, impersonating Kynlaur was partly to trick Xiao Qi, who controlled the command tent, into believing the real Kynlaur had arrived and taken command.

Thus, to protect his war-acceleration plan, Xiao Qi would redirect his forces to eliminate the real “Kynlaur”—and Cheng Shi had already supplied him with the perfect excuse: traitors within the frontline.

To Xiao Qi, this traitor wasn’t the rear unit Kynlaur had designated—it was... Kynlaur himself!

This was clearly a filthy trick by the War Legion to impersonate the supreme commander. To preserve battlefield unity and troop morale, the impostor must be purged immediately.

Thus, another meteor firestorm would likely rain down precisely where “Kynlaur” appeared—and after being caught in the blast, it would be perfectly reasonable for some player to deploy one or two key items to escape.

The more Sun Miao contemplated how many layers of deception this Weaver of Fate had woven just to make the Fear Core’s appearance plausible, the more delighted he felt for the Beast Tamer about to walk into the trap.

Don’t forget—Vice-Chairman Sun’s little notebook also bears Du Qiyu’s name.

He wanted Xiao Qi dead more than Cheng Shi did.

After carefully reviewing the plan and finding no flaws, Sun Miao nodded:

“Better to act soon than delay. The longer we wait, the more likely the real Kynlaur will appear and bring new changes.”

Don’t forget—he doesn’t want the Grand Inquisition to die. He’s trying to save the nation, just with a harsher medicine.”

Cheng Shi wholeheartedly agreed. He quietly slipped toward the nearest Element Judge formation in the battle line, disguised himself as Kynlaur in an unobserved corner, and prepared to add real fire to this war.

But just as he finished all preparations, found the perfect moment, and was about to reveal himself and issue the order—a familiar figure stepped forward first and issued an undeniable command to the massive Element Judge ranks.

“Element Judges, listen: prepare to chant the meteor firestorm. Target the central command. No discrimination in casting!”

“!!!”

“Supreme Inquisitor Kynlaur, why are you delivering this order personally...?”

“My lord, those are your own elite troops!”

“My lord, what’s happened?!”

The Element Judges were stunned. It wasn’t that they dared disobey—it was that this order was utterly absurd. Anyone would suspect foul play.

But soon, Kynlaur—the real Kynlaur—produced his command token and spoke with visible anguish:

“Some have betrayed their own devotion, turned away from my Lord’s gaze, and squandered His trust.”

Judges, it is time to purge these worms corroding [Order]. We must show the entire continent the wrath of [Order]—His dignity is forever inviolable.”

All for the New Order!”

“Cast!”

“Civilization ignites. Order endures!”

Now, with a “legitimate reason,” the Element Judges raised their hands and began chanting the forbidden art, summoning the [Wrath of Loathing], imprisoned in its cage.

Watching all this, Cheng Shi silently transformed into an Element Judge and blended into the ranks, saying nothing.

Not...

I thought bombing my own rear lines was already beyond the pale—but Kynlaur, you’re bombing your own elite troops?!

What?

You’re serious?

If the Master of Deception hadn’t told me you never lied, I’d swear Xiao Qi and I had the same idea.

Removing necrotic flesh is a valid treatment—but the flesh you remove can’t kill the patient! You just cut off the head—so...

Can he still live?