Chapter: 37. Are You Willing? (5K)
Bringing a small stool to listen to the mythic epic, it just feels inadequate?
No worries, with the boost of donuts, Xue Fei can still listen with great interest.
“Xiya, here’s another piece for you, strawberry filling.”
“Thank you? It’s a bit sweet… um, where was she talking about?”
“I don’t know, just pretend to understand and don’t ask too many questions, otherwise it’ll be too embarrassing.”
“That’s true.”
Aimeres is, after all, an ancient deity.
Some of her words come out as if encrypted, convoluted, and if one hasn’t studied ancient culture, it’s really hard to comprehend.
Of course, even those who have studied ancient culture might not understand.
But fortunately, her narrative of the main situation…
Is still clear enough.
In the primordial era, long before life was born, the original four gods had already descended upon this desolate land.
They arose from the brilliance of the sun, moon, and stars, coalescing in the twinkling of mountains, rivers, and seas, existing as a supreme being beyond common logic.
Since they had descended to this land, they all had a long-held wish.
— To change, to move forward, and to create.
The Dragon God Sanoled soared in the sky, devouring lightning, shattering lava, calming tsunamis, turning the extremely harsh natural environment of the primordial era into a comfortable tranquility.
The Elf God Einor blessed the heavens and the earth, allowing the climate to be temperate and the grains to be abundant, with flowers, grass, and trees blooming across the mountains, sunlight piercing through a millennium of clouds, illuminating the land and mountains.
The Demon God Tiyiel sang at the world’s dome, filling every corner of the world with magic, causing the light reflected on the sea to blend with the stars, creating twin moons in the sky, granting the world a cycle of night and day.
The Human God Aimeres prayed at the center of the world, bringing down nourishing rain to cover the land; all life surged in the downpour, eliminating the barren landscape, and even fish and insects began to stir and break free from their cocoons.
The four deities stood at the four poles of the world.
Affected by the different natures of their magic, over tens of thousands of years, the life forms in different regions gradually evolved into distinct characteristics, forming entirely different races.
The quiet world grew noisy.
Under the governance of the four deities, everything was orderly, and the world operated according to the rules they set.
At first, only the physical forms of living beings were changing.
Later, they developed wisdom and the ability to think independently.
As time passed, races developed their own territorial awareness, demarcating boundaries according to the influence of the deities.
Initially, the gods did not mind this minuscule change, which appeared trivial to them.
So what if they gained intelligence? They could think and act subjectively; this was better and conducive to further improving order.
But the gods ultimately underestimated the value of the beings they had created…
Underestimated the value of life, spirit, and thought.
The Elf God taught the races to cultivate the fields, yet living beings waited for others’ fields to mature, seizing crops during harvest.
The Demon God taught the world magic, but the people used magic as a weapon to attack one another, causing injury and harm.
The Dragon God taught everyone the importance of strength but witnessed the strong bullying the weak, flaunting their power with pride.
The Human God taught the meanings of love and compassion but gave rise to hatred and jealousy in darkness.
It’s like you brought light.
The world turned around and learned of shadows.
It was unknown when certain races began attacking others across borders without the permission of the deities.
Slaughter and bloodshed shocked the gods, leaving them perplexed.
Why, under the established rules, was there conflict?
“Didn’t you take action?” Xue Fei asked, raising her hands. “You just said that it was a world governed by the gods; then when such things happened, shouldn’t there be divine punishment to kill the chicken to warn the monkey? Uh… by the way, were there monkeys back then?”
“Of course, there was action. The Dragon God Sanoled was furious about this; he descended to the world and, with a single strike, utterly destroyed the evil race that initiated war for the first time in history, thus earning the title of [God of Domination].”
“I guess… that’s somewhat effective, but not entirely useful.” Xiya sighed thoughtfully, “The records from ancient times are just like this… wherever there are people, there will be wars. As long as there is desire and chance, there will be slaughter and theft.”
“You are correct, the complexity of life and thought… far exceeds our imagination.”
This little girl from the human race is not wrong.
Since
the Dragon God’s wrath, all races indeed calmed down for a while.
But even without war, theft, crime, murder, and deceit almost filled all races.
These rapidly spreading negatives puzzled even the powerful gods, constantly updating their perceptions.
“We once naively thought that as long as the four gods existed, the evils of the world would be washed away.”
“But evil is like picking sand from the sea… pick up one grain, and two more appear; remove two grains, and it’s still a mix of mud and sand, endless and boundless. Living beings admire and fear us, but if we govern solely through slaughter, it only provokes their deep-seated negative consciousness.”
“Later, we gods personally focused on correcting the races, but without exception, all headed toward destruction.”
“And those races we did not timely pay attention to… unexpectedly developed their own systems, thriving and orderly, truly marvelous.”
In godless lands, governance gradually emerged, agriculture developed, and they began their own initial commodity exchange.
This logic is interesting, and also full of irony.
— The wilfully uncivilized places that the gods did not personally visit became increasingly prosperous.
— The regions where the gods frequently intervened, however, fell into decline.
Those races that overly depended on the gods made no progress; they merely prayed each day for divine grace, lacking any desire to strive forward.
In contrast, those races that could only rely on self-sufficiency, with no backup, obtained everything they could possess.
It is quite ironic, as reality seems to mock the gods’ actions, all appear to be wrong.
And the gods must ponder the reasons behind it.
“At that time, we recognized a problem: could these tiny lives withstand the grace of the gods? Perhaps… vacating this world, allowing the lives of this world to determine the course of their fate on their own, would be the right decision.”
“Thus, after tens of thousands of years of our descent into the world, the four gods convened for the first time regarding this matter.”
Aimeres’ gaze suddenly shifted toward the east.
It’s unclear if she was reminded of a certain altar in the east from tens of thousands of years ago, where the meeting of deities was held.
Unfortunately, the east is very vast, and others can no longer know where she was looking.
As for the result of that gathering… it was as expected.
It left the four gods dejected, but that was the conclusion consistent with reality.
— Life no longer needed our existence.
We have done everything we could; what remains should be decided by these tiny beings themselves.
The power of the gods was too great; the existence of the gods themselves had become the greatest obstacle to maintaining order in the world.
“So you’re saying you decided to retire.”
Xue Fei snapped her fingers, summarizing the earth-shattering gods’ meeting in one sentence.
Although Aimeres felt a bit displeased with such a dismissive summary, it was indeed a fitting conclusion, so she couldn’t explode with anger.
“Indeed… one could say that, and I agree with their views. We should find a place to hide, cease to inquire about worldly matters, allowing the stars of the world to rotate according to their original paths, no longer subject to interference. Moreover… we have been troubled by worldly matters for thousands of years and are long tired of it. But I never expected… the gods would be so extreme.”
Extreme.
It refers to the fact that the Demon God Tiyiel suggested at the end of the meeting—since we are to disappear, let’s disappear thoroughly.
Find a place to hide?
That won’t do; it’s uncertain if someone might reverse their decision one day and intervene in the world again.
Better to drop the obsession and sever ties completely.
[We have roamed the world for ten thousand years; is that not enough?]
“I agree to disappear, but I’m unwilling to acknowledge the idea of ‘completely disappearing’. At that time, the people still revered the gods, kneeling every day, supported by faith. If the gods suddenly vanished from the world, faith would collapse, chaos would arise, and without a final insurance, who could guarantee that when the flames of war engulf the fields, it wouldn’t completely destroy civilization and ruin our millennia-long aspirations? Therefore, I advocate for seclusion instead, with the four gods restraining each other; there is no need to embark on the path of self-destruction.”
At this point, Aimeres’ tone suddenly became somewhat heavy.
“To my surprise, all three gods other than myself decisively agreed with Tiyiel’s statement, doing so without hesitation, as if they had reached a consensus beforehand.”
“That’s a bit strange…” Upon hearing this, Xue Fei felt a bit confused. “So, thinking this way is normal for you, but they were so composed, saying they would disappear? Whatever they are gods, right? Let me give a personal analogy: if I were guarding a lake filled with fish, and I kept fishing, causing the number of fish to dwindle, and later I realized I should exit to let the fish expand their population, I wouldn’t want to disappear forever!”
“Uh… why fish… never mind, in short, I thought it was strange then, but I didn’t want to entangle with them too much. They can do as they please, but I will act alone, continuing to protect the world from the shadows. As a result, that bastard Tiyiel actually took advantage of the situation… she mocked me for being cowardly and power-hungry. As gods, with divine bodies, even self-destruction returns to the stars; how could we care about power and life!”
A golden ripple surged in the space, shaking the small stool. It was clear that Aimeres was furiously angry.
The fury that transcended ten thousand years had risen to an unimaginable extent.
Aimeres slowly descended to the ground.
It was as if she had fallen from the edge of the sky to the mortal realm back in the day.
“Despicable… Those three gods actually united to prevent me from leaving. Their reasoning was that if they completely vanished and left me behind in the world, it would certainly invite calamity; without mutual restraint among the four gods, absolute power would emerge, leading to eternal unrest. But how could I do something contrary to the principles of the gods…! Yet, those three gods did not allow for discussion, jointly suppressing and sealing my divine power, trapping me in an eternal rift of time and space. Originally, the gathering of the four gods became a trap for me… People in later generations also claimed that the war originated from me… I am filled with hatred, hating the gods for their authoritarian extremism, hating the world’s absurd betrayal, hating…!”
“Stop, stop, stop, don’t hate anymore! You’ve turned into a little golden statue; what else can you hate? So, how long have you been sealed?”
“For over ten thousand years, the seal has loosened slightly, allowing me to remain in this incomplete form, wandering in the rift of time and space.”
“Ah, this story is quite profound; Xiya, you see, in life, one cannot be too stubborn, even the gods are like this, let alone us.”
“Xue Fei, your philosophical musings always come so suddenly.”
It’s true.
Just think about it, even if you disagree with what the other gods say, you might as well pretend to agree, right? Once they all fulfill their promise of ‘completely disappearing’, wouldn’t it be like letting the fish swim freely in the ocean and letting birds fly high in the sky!
Not sure if she guessed Xue Fei’s thoughts, but Aimeres shook her head and completely denied her naivety.
“Who said that gods are devoid of selfishness… they say ‘completely disappear’, but do they truly have this intention?”
Xiya pondered over these words repeatedly, gradually noticing a rather terrifying deeper meaning concealed within.
“You mean… the gods did not disappear? They still exist somewhere in the world? Is that possible? It has clearly been so long.”
“Who knows?”
Aimeres sneered coldly.
Even in an entirely indifferent tone, she revealed the hypocrisy of the deities without a shred of mercy.
“The four of us gods have lived in different domains for tens of thousands of years; who can say they have no selfishness towards the homeland they reside in? To my knowledge, the Elf God Einor has indeed vanished, but since her disappearance, the land of the Elf Race has seen the emergence of a world tree that reaches the sky! Einor’s power is [Infinite], so where did that [Infinite] go?”
That wasn’t the end of her discourse.
For the first time in ten thousand years, Aimeres had the chance to speak like this, how could she not reveal everything?
“The Dragon God, known for absolute power, also disappeared, but why did the Northern Region, where he once lived, quickly flourish to the point of forming the so-called ‘High-Level Races’? Where did their empowered strength come from?”
“Especially that damned Demon God Tiyiel…” Speaking of her, Aimeres’ tone was gritting her teeth, hating to the extreme, “That hypocritical thing accused me of being cowardly and power-hungry, yet she vanished without a trace after disappearing. Where did she go! Did she truly choose self-destruction? Who would believe that! If she had destroyed herself back then, how could she have taught the demon race the dark arts she possessed? Almost all the magic currently used by the demon race… bears her boundless magical mark.”
At this point, Aimeres paused for a moment.
Suddenly turning her gaze, she looked toward the two listeners.
“This world… is far more turbulent than you can imagine, and I have a premonition… that something significant will happen in this era.”
The voice echoed for a long time.
Xue Fei waved her hand to disperse the lingering sound.
Tsk, this little goddess, actually has to add an echo when summarizing her speech! Does that make you look cool?
It indeed looks very cool.
Thank you, Xue Fei learned another trick, and in the future, when she needs to put on an act, she’ll do it like that.
Unlike Xue Fei, who was single-mindedly learning, Xiya, after hearing Aimeres’ words, thought of many possibilities.
If what she said is true, then the other three gods who once protected the world could be ticking time bombs leading to the world’s destruction or chaos at any moment.
They have benefited their respective races for a process that has lasted tens of thousands of years.
If one day they come to new conclusions, that would be quite terrifying…
But if Aimeres’ remarks hide something… then it’s a different situation.
The more she thought about it, the more it gave her a headache; but fortunately, Xue Fei’s optimism had already taught Xiya a simple truth.
— Don’t worry about those elusive matters for now.
There’s no point in being troubled over things that can’t be confirmed; it’s better to enjoy the present!
With that in mind, Xiya moved a bit closer to where Xue Fei was sitting, took a bite of the donut, stood up, and faced the golden light that had once again risen into the air.
Even in front of a god, Xiya remained unshaken.
“Thank you for explaining all this; I will temporarily believe you are Lord Aimeres. We probably understand the situation now, but the key is, why did you invite us here and tell us these stories?”
“Hahahahaha, very good, very good, your way of speaking is much more straightforward than that little brat beside you! No wonder you are of our human race; you’re far stronger than the Demon Race’s little nuisances! This is destined since ancient times!”
You, you, you… are you provoking a war here?!
This time Aimeres was clever; she didn’t continue to speak further.
Because that little demon’s mouth seemed ready to strike again.
Compared to all this…
She felt she had already conveyed everything she needed to.
Indeed, it was time to clarify her final thoughts, right?
“God loves the world but also needs the world’s help. I’m still in a sealed state, with no magic left; only my powers can still function, but I can do nothing. I need to revive faith. Before the actions of the gods, I must reopen the pages of mythology.”
Golden light erupted around Aimeres.
Her words were as clear as stones dropping into a lake, resonant and powerful.
“Xue Fei, you are very special; I can sense it. Even among all the Demon Races over the past thousand years, you stand out as a unique existence. Even I cannot probe your magical limits. I don’t know how much protection Tiyiel has over you, but your magic is unfathomable. This heavy sealing of the gods has already loosened… I believe that with your magic, you can forcefully break through.”
Saying that, Aimeres turned her gaze to Xiya, and her words continued.
“By then, the combined sealing of the three gods will become meaningless. Xialet, you are the hero of the human race, possessing the same magical properties as I. The magic you unleash while wielding the Holy Sword can serve as a key to thoroughly break the final ring of the gods’ seal on me, allowing me to regain all my divine powers.”
At that time.
The complete human god Aimeres will once again grace the world, guiding it into a new era.
“This matter can only be accomplished by you two.”
Aimeres extended her hands toward them, embodying the god longing to embrace the world anew.
“I can guarantee that once I regain my freedom, I will take the initiative to eliminate all hidden dangers in the world. Under my supervision, the world will usher in everlasting peace; I will bear everything like I did ten thousand years ago. The wars you are worried about now will cease to be an issue in the future. Will you… agree?”
