Chapter 1280
The Plot to Slay Gods
“I became a frontline supervisor, which means I could die at any moment. Given my foolishness, this sudden death could happen on the second day, the third day, or any day after. As long as I diligently complete every mission, that day will eventually come.
No supervisor is exempt from handling dangerous tasks. If supervisors don’t do it, should ordinary people handle it themselves? That’s impossible. This is the supervisor’s duty, and our destiny.
From that moment on, I considered myself a dead person. I was prepared for death, ready to accept that I might not return every time I stepped out of my dorm.
Haina spoke, recalling her fear and determination when she went to Moriarty’s mansion.
She remembered fighting alongside Eivass, who was in a wheelchair, at the Pelican Bar.
At that time, she had no fear whatsoever.
It was precisely because of this that she chose an offense-oriented promotion profession. She wanted to be a shield for her comrades, to resist damage for them.
…But why did she become timid afterward?
The more powerful she became, the more cowardly she grew.
Was it the influence of Path Adaptation on her?
Had it turned her from a knight who obeyed orders and protected others into an adapter whose top priority was survival?
…Perhaps there was some truth to that, but it wasn’t absolute.
It was likely because Haina had found her satisfaction.
No one gave her orders anymore, and no one held any expectations of her.
Her parents had wanted her to achieve great things, so she had poured all her effort into it, pushing through Amber’s curse to enter Avalon’s highest institution and become its top student. Then, Eivass wanted her to protect him, so Haina, who had never fought for her life, faced enemies stronger than herself without flinching or fleeing, even while carrying a “burden” with limited mobility. Later, driven by the expectation of becoming a strong person and a protector for her teammates, she entered the Ascension Ritual alone, slaying enemies and completing missions single-handedly, achieving continuous victories.
But after that, no one gave her any more commands.
She had done well enough, and everyone told her to relax.
So Haina chose to stop.
She felt that everything she had was good enough, and she only wished to continue preserving it. To that end, she discouraged her friends from venturing into danger, tried to preserve herself when encountering danger, and felt hesitant and indecisive when facing challenges from powerful enemies…
And now, she had a new goal.
There were still innocent people who needed her protection.
There were still sacred missions for her to complete.
Compared to that…
“—Death is nothing, what’s so difficult about it?”
Haina said seriously, straightening her back. “It doesn’t matter if I can become a Pillar God or a King—I will do what needs to be done now.
“You need me to be a carrier for a Heavenly Envoy, right? I—have no problem with that.
“For the path of righteousness, I am willing to dedicate myself to it.”
Just like a true knight.
Morgan slightly widened her eyes.
Every word of her resolve and spirit was like the Lancelot of the past.
As Haina’s fiery determination solidified, the phantom image of a sword gradually appeared behind her.
However, determination was ephemeral, like fireworks. It burned to its limit for a very short time, just as the resonance of the Path was not long-lasting. The sword, after almost condensing, gradually dissipated…
—But before it completely dissipated, the Grey Heavenly Envoy seized it.
At that moment, the sword took shape.
Haina was startled.
She hadn’t even realized that a mysterious sword had appeared behind her.
“Your heart is too scattered, Haina,”
The Grey Heavenly Envoy, holding the sword constantly reshaping in the chaos, said slowly to Haina. “It’s not that you lack talent—you were never an Ordinary Person. How could an Ordinary Person easily grasp so much knowledge? How could an Ordinary Person have such Path talent?
“How can an Ordinary Person become a clone of a Heavenly Envoy? How can an Ordinary Person be cursed by a Pillar God? You always fail to firm up your path, and it’s simple… not because you are too lacking, but because you have too much in surplus.
“The Wing Heavenly Envoy of the past severed himself into the Great Philosopher and Supreme Heaven. The Ring Heavenly Envoy of the past cut himself into the Snake Head and Snake Tail. Hengwo of the past abandoned himself ten times, and after only the ‘Self’ remained, he cruelly performed the eleventh severance. The Fallen Heavenly Envoy of the past divided his good and evil thoughts. Eivass also once split himself into the Pope and the Madman…
“—How will you sever yourself, Haina? Which selves will you abandon?”
The Grey Heavenly Envoy asked Haina, holding the sword of chaos.
He was like an executioner, asking, “Do you know your crime?!”
Haina’s reaction was to calmly reply, “I have no crime.”
“Because I don’t wish to become a Pillar God.”
Haina said, “Just like several universities—I’m not satisfied with any of them. I can do these things, and I will do them with all my might no matter what. But that is not my归宿 (guīsù – destination/belonging).”
Upon hearing this, the Grey Heavenly Envoy smiled.
“Very good.”
He said, handing the sword he had shaped to Haina.
“Possessing violence, but for survival; yearning for ease, yet adhering to order.”
The Grey Heavenly Envoy slowly said, “Don’t you think this suits you?”
“…Me?”
Haina was stunned.
Which Pillar God was that? Which Origin River?
Why was it the fifth, then the sixth, then the seventh, then the eighth?
The Grey Heavenly Envoy transformed into a beautiful and pure young girl.
She reached out, affectionately placing her hand on Haina’s shoulder, and said casually, “Naturally, it’s the Thirteenth Origin River—I call it ‘Justice’, what do you think?”
“…Thirteenth?!”
“To be honest, we are next to each other. I should ascend to heaven one step ahead of you. My goal is to become the Pillar God of the Twelfth Origin River… the weaving of Ease and Truth, which is also the protection of truth. Do you think lies are better, or fallacies sound more appealing?”
The Grey Heavenly Envoy said without reservation.
“Wait, wait, wait…”
Haina’s brain couldn’t keep up. “Aren’t… aren’t there only nine Origin Rivers? Even if we include the tenth… and Eivass’s miracles…”
As she said this, Haina suddenly realized.
“You understand too.”
The Grey Heavenly Envoy said cheerfully. “Exactly.
“The number of Origin Rivers has been constantly increasing until that unspeakable power binds them, leading to Doomsday.
“—If you truly believe from the bottom of your heart that Eivass can change everything and save this World… you should know that after the Sacred Number Eleven, which symbolizes miracles, there will be brand new Possibilities.
“What I’m gambling on is that Possibility. My friends…”
The Grey Heavenly Envoy said cheerfully, pointing at Haina, then at Hassan, and Morgan. “You, and you… all of us have the Possibility of becoming new Pillar Gods. This World is constantly developing, and the scale of the Dream Realm will continue to expand.
“As long as Doomsday ends, everything will turn out for the best, and everyone will be rewarded for their merits, turning into a Great Deed; if Doomsday does not end, it will only be dying half a moment earlier, what is there to fear?”
“…You want us all to undergo Ouroboros Ring?”
Hassan finally understood what the Grey Heavenly Envoy meant. “Haina and I… both become Heavenly Envoys, and then replicate the Battle of Punishing Heaven of the past?”
It’s not just about confronting the Great Abyss—that was merely a ruse to draw out Calamity Red.
What the Grey Heavenly Envoy truly intended to do was to use the combined power of all Heavenly Envoys to directly slay Calamity Red!
Although they were all just Heavenly Envoys of this World, without the power of true Heavenly Envoys.
—But Calamity Red is not the invincible Supreme Heaven!
It seems… it might work?
The Grey Heavenly Envoy said meaningfully, “Indeed. Compared to the great achievement that can be attained in the Future, Life is merely a trivial gamble. Of course, you can also consider my words as nonsense and lies…
“But even if it’s a lie, isn’t this Possibility worth a try?”
