Chapter 981: Again!

Again!

Just now, something utterly absurd happened in this world.

A mortal who could not possibly cling to any deity across any dimension suddenly revealed to a god what he claimed was the truth of the universe.

Ha, even the boldest screenwriter would never dare imagine such a ridiculous plot—but this scene unfolded in reality.

【War】 stared intently at Cheng Shi, feeling as though Cheng Shi was no longer a player, but a puppet manipulated by 【Deception】, sent here solely to tell him these things.

But in truth, Cheng Shi was no puppet; his original intent in making this deal with 【War】 was to exploit 【War】’s warlike will to create chaos across the cosmos for the Fear Faction.

He had not forgotten what the Jester God was plotting, nor could he doubt that his patron’s goal would inevitably be the supreme slice-universe “Experiment” controller, 【Origin】.

Do you remember the earlier conversation between Cheng Shi and the Jester God? Cheng Shi had guessed His determination to investigate, but begged Him to delay preparations a little longer, until he could assist Him.

Yet for a mortal to aid a true god in scheming against the supreme—this was no different from dreaming awake, the delusion of a fool.

But difficulties always have solutions; if a mortal cannot help, what of another true god?

【War】 was not a pure member of the Fear Faction, but at least He felt fear—if that fear could be harnessed, as it is now...

Then, when countless slice-universes’ 【War】s waged war against each other, would the chaos within the “Experiment Field” become the perfect cover for the Jester God’s actions, allowing His mysterious plan to proceed more smoothly?

This was the most effective aid Cheng Shi could currently conceive for the Fear Faction.

Of course, it was not entirely aid—it was also a test, a test of the Jester God.

Know this: Cheng Shi’s promise to 【War】 was worthless; even if he succeeded in this deal, he had merely leaked a hint to 【War】—whether 【War】 could, through 【Time】’s hand, break through the barrier of space-time to find other 【War】s...

Still depended on whether the Jester God agreed.

【Time】 had no time to care about such matters; thus, the final decision rested in 【Deception】’s hands.

This was why Cheng Shi appeared like a puppet—he knew only by representing the Jester God could this deal proceed.

Moreover, the Jester God’s attitude toward this deal would reveal much to Cheng Shi.

If He accepted, it meant He likely intended to create chaos beneath 【Origin】’s very gaze—and His reason for stealing the Authority and Divine Seat of 【Chaos】 might stem from this.

But if He refused, as before: the dog that bites doesn’t bark; His refusal of chaos could only

And the risk of the latter was clearly far greater than the former, which still had excuses to justify itself!

Thus, Cheng Shi’s move was also a way to “foresee” a vague future—he wanted to know what kind of “change” he would ultimately face.

But all of this still required 【War】 to accept this deal; if the other side retreated again, as before...

“Come out... your proxy is not enough to bargain with me.”

Those eyes of blood and fire suddenly sneered, summoning a tidal wave of blood across the battlefield, overturning the stunned Cheng Shi and dragging him into the turbulent current until he vanished.

At the very moment Cheng Shi disappeared, a pair of laughing starry eyes opened above the jester’s former position, gazing down upon 【War】 with a sardonic smile:

“So you’re interested in the jester’s deal?”

【War】 rumbled: “You might as well be honest... don’t pin this deal on your believer.”

“Oh?” 【Deception】 laughed heartily, “Then you’re mistaken—this deal was an accident to me, too, for my plans never included you.”

“But since you’re here, I’d like to ask: 【War】, are you interested in my plan?”

【War】’s gaze sharpened: “Your target is truly 【*Him】!”

【Deception】’s smile widened, returning the same words to the other: “Your target is truly 【*Him】!”

The two pairs of divine eyes locked for a moment, then silence fell over the scene.

Soon after, 【Deception】 chuckled:

“Hehe~

Don’t be nervous—you’ve already beaten two of me, so what are you afraid of?

Retreating at the brink of battle is a cardinal sin in warfare.”

“I am not retreating—I am thinking... if this cosmos truly contains countless other versions of me, unknown even to me... then once war obliterates everything... will I still have any opponents?”

“?”

Upon hearing this, the Jester God, who had thought 【War】 was hiding his true strength, finally lost his composure.

Are you seriously engaging in armchair strategizing?

If 【*Him】 were truly this easy to defeat, then tell me—where did my fear come from? How did I lose the Authority of 【Foolishness】?

Thus, 【Deception】’s tone instantly turned mocking:

“I thought 【War】 was skilled in battle, but I never imagined you were better at fantasy.

In that case, you’re utterly incompatible with 【Civilization】—why not join my 【Void】? I’ll have 【Fate】 make room for you. He’s obsessed with strength, reeking of 【Civilization】’s stench.”

“...”

One sentence attacking two gods—you can never outmaneuver 【Deception】 in sarcasm.

【War】 fell silent again, but the Jester God’s mockery never ceased.

“What? Continue your armchair strategizing—say more. Otherwise, I’ll suspect you’re under the control of 【Silence】.”

“A puppet of 【War】?”

“Hmm, that makes sense. So the one who defeated me just now was 【Silence】? 2v2? Losing isn’t shameful.”

“... No need to provoke me. I won’t play along by fighting 【Silence】.”

“War is not just about fighting—it’s about contention... He never contends, so fighting Him is dull... Tell me, tell me your plan... I’m still more interested in 【*Him】.”

The starry eyes swirled slightly, the smile growing brighter.

“Very well. Adding a minor character to a fixed script—isn’t that also a kind of change?”

“To join is simple: fight me.”

“Win, and I’ll take you to smash 【*Him】’s door.”

“Lose, and obey my orders without question.”

No sooner had the words left his lips than the silent battlefield reignited in flames!

But before the flames could illuminate the entire cosmos, they suddenly extinguished.

Those eyes of blood and fire fixed on the iridescent starry eyes before him, their battle-lust surging: “Is this 【*Him】’s power? Where did you get it? Was your previous failure intentional?”

Is this the power of Him? Where did you get it? Was your last failure intentional?

“Again!”

“Hmph.”

“Again!”

“Chii—”

“Again!”

“?”

“Again!”

“...”

In one fleeting instant, those eternally brilliant starry eyes dimmed slightly, illuminated by the flames—just as the lord upon the bone throne had looked when confronting certain 【Void】.

Indeed, brute is just a brute—utterly incomprehensible.

As expected, a brute is just a brute—utterly incomprehensible.

“...”

「......」