Chapter 853: This is Grace
…No wonder.
Eivass suddenly understood what the Ring Heavenly Envoy had said before.
That was why the Ring Heavenly Envoy had said those words at that time…
“—Just trigger the Samsara ending. Anyway, all of this is just an illusion. Letting more people live is the best choice… That’s what you thought, right?”
The Ring Heavenly Envoy looked at Eivass, a smile on his lips. “You and I are the same person. Even if I removed all that weak humanity, reason and wisdom alone are enough to deduce what you would think.
“Every move you make is within my expectations. After all, you are my best creation.
“And so it is… Since this World has been solidified, what does it matter if it starts over?
“When you play a game and are fighting a very difficult BOSS… if you already know that you will definitely lose this life, would you still use those precious consumable items? I don’t think you would, right?
“For a future that is unknown how far away… so that ‘future self’ can clear the game. Sacrificing the current life to test more of the BOSS’s mechanics and to cultivate a better feel for yourself—these are all reasonable and correct choices.”
“A Necessary Evil and… early death?”
Eivass frowned deeply, realizing what the Ring Heavenly Envoy was saying. “Foster father… Mr. James, you were behind it, weren’t you?”
“He was just a pawn. But his philosophy itself cannot be said to be wrong.”
The Ring Heavenly Envoy looked into the distant Void, saying leisurely, “No matter how you extreme and abstract his theories, and see through the logical contradictions… it doesn’t negate another fact.
“—When you hear this theory, and when you encounter someone who can practice it, you will still subconsciously consider the possibility of this theory.”
“Knowledge is poisonous… is that it?” Eivass recalled something and said softly.
“Compared to the theory that ‘knowledge is poisonous, and once you know something, you can’t escape its influence’, I actually lean more towards… knowledge only sculpts you into your future form.
“Your future self, your mature self, your complete self… would naturally do such things, make such choices. It’s just that when you are still naive, childish, and immature, you won’t understand some principles. That knowledge merely reveals your original appearance, your future form, in advance.”
The Ring Heavenly Envoy’s voice lowered slightly, as if he had thought of something, and his mood was no longer as elated and happy. “Originally… this form would require you to go through some setbacks and difficulties to become.
“Knowledge changes nothing. It doesn’t make people degenerate, nor does it make people change, nor does it poison people—it only accelerates people into becoming their true selves.”
He turned back to look at Eivass, his tone becoming a little more serious. “Every time the World restarts, even the Nine Pillar Gods cannot completely transcend this power of Samsara. In the new Samsara, those who should die will still die, and those who should become gods will still become gods.
“Only a few existences can retain their memories… for example, me, the former owner of this power, Amber, the new owner, and ancient existences like the Twin and the Candlemaster who existed before the Cicada Molting and became Pillar Gods. Their specifications are larger than the ‘Amber Egg’, so they can retain all their memories and power.
“And the Heavenly Envoys who existed at that time might retain some incomplete memories, but they wouldn’t know the whole truth. That’s why the Great Philosopher entered the Origin River of ‘Truth’, where all the answers to the problems lie…
“—It is precisely because he saw the truth that the Silent God says nothing.”
The Ring Heavenly Envoy pointed out the truth revealed by the second painting.
Suddenly, Eivass recalled what the Ring Heavenly Envoy had said earlier:
“—When the World changes and cycles, all things remain eternally unchanged.
“—The righteous will remain righteous, the defiled will remain defiled. Kings are always kings, slaves are always slaves.
“—No one ascends, no one descends, all things never change. The universe is already solidified, like an Amber Egg; the World cycles eternally, just like an Ouroboros Ring.”
So that’s what it meant.
“During each Samsara, apart from the interference of the Pillar Gods, this World always operates on a similar trajectory; but every time a Pillar God intervenes in the Material Realm, the future is reshaped in a completely new direction.
This is the truth of the ‘Ascension Ritual’.
“Those Dungeons were not fabricated out of thin air by the Pillar Gods. The Pillar Gods do not have the time and energy to write Dungeons for every group of Ascenders… they are merely handing over those undecided pasts and futures to the Ascenders to ‘test’, to find new possibilities, for the future of this Samsara, or for the past of the next Samsara.
“This is already the ninth time. There is a possibility that this World will continue to operate in this way… continuing this infinite cycle of eight thousand years.
“But there is also a possibility that the World restarting for the ninth time is its limit. The ninth restart, for the World to enter its tenth cycle, will cause the entire World to irreversibly head towards the Void…
“—So, this time, I intend to sever Samsara.”
The Ring Heavenly Envoy said in a deep voice, “Only in the first Samsara did I become the Ouroboros Ring; the other times were Endless Knots. Therefore, in this final Samsara, I will once again become the Ouroboros Ring, thus forming the interconnectedness of the Samsara’s beginning and end.
“To transcend Samsara, one must sever the Twilight; to sever the Twilight, one must face the Void—the Father Snake always chooses to break through the Amber Wall in each Samsara, but he has never returned alive. So, one must be at least stronger than the Father Snake to have a chance to face that world-ending destroyer whose form is unknown, and who is isolated by a time loop that is sealed off before it is even reached.
“I have no hostility towards you, Eivass. We are not enemies to begin with. I nurtured you in the Material Realm across nine Samsaras, accumulating the power of nine lifetimes as a part of me… Now is the time for harvest.
“Before the final moment arrives, I am here to reclaim my property, a part of me—my lost humanity and self.”
The Ring Heavenly Envoy said this and reached out to press Eivass’s head. “Don’t resist, Eivass.
“Just think of it for the sake of the World, alright? If we fight amongst ourselves, the power we’ve accumulated will inevitably diminish. If we can’t even penetrate the Amber Wall, how can we face that world-ending calamity?
“You are a good child who understands reason… Don’t make it difficult for me. Give me your soul. You are already complete. As for Alester, I will wait until she collects all the Beasts of Sin before reclaiming her.”
“—No.”
Eivass suddenly refused.
He reached out and clasped the Ring Heavenly Envoy’s arm, looking into his eyes. “It’s not that I’m unwilling to sacrifice myself for the sake of the World. It’s just that… I don’t trust you.
“Just as you understand me, I understand you too. I understand too well… what I will become if I abandon all my conscience, humanity, and morality…
“Deceiving people with the truth to hide my real thoughts; using others’ trust to achieve my own goals; destroying others after using them… Instead of a Savior, you are more like a pure evil person. In the end, since you said… whether you devour me or I devour you, the result is the same. Why don’t you give me the power?
“—And you have already given me all your devotion. What do you want to do with this power for this World?
“Furthermore, you are clearly the Samsara Heavenly Envoy and have coexisted with the Pillar Gods of this World for several Samsaras. Then why do they all choose to help me… instead of you?”
“…I hate little brats with sharp instincts like you the most.”
The Ring Heavenly Envoy narrowed his eyes slightly. “Why do you have to meddle like this?”
Saying this, he conjured a bottle of wine from nowhere.
It was a blood wine, no larger than his palm.
“What else can I think?”
The Ring Heavenly Envoy sneered as he unscrewed the bottle. “I want to go home—it’s not like I don’t have a way back. I’ve already found the way home.
“Unlike you who live in this World… although I don’t have a home in that World anymore, it’s still much better than this World that is about to be destroyed. And I can take you all back with me, isn’t that good? When you decide to resign from your job and return to your hometown, you naturally take all your belongings from your rented apartment with you, right?
“However, since you don’t accept it…”
The Ring Heavenly Envoy completely unsealed the bottle.
A strong fragrance instantly numbed Eivass’s brain—
What is this…
Even though he was just a soul, he felt an unprecedented, ultimate attraction!
“This is my past… our past’s blood. The last bottle of blood I left behind when I was still called ‘Shepherd’. Although I had anticipated this scene, I still held onto a sliver of hope. I originally wanted to keep it as a memento… Don’t forget, you are also in a soul state now—you are also a Phantom Demon.”
The Ring Heavenly Envoy said sarcastically, casting the bottle to the dazed Eivass as if bestowing charity. “Drink it, drink it… Drink deeply of my blood, unspeakable and unsingable!
“I am the Eucharist…
“—This is… Grace.”
(End of Chapter)
