New God

As the sun sets and the waves rise, the undulating sea echoes with noise and clamor.

Upon seeing the light of day again Yilan-Tai'er cried out loudly to the unfamiliar world like a newborn baby.

This once glorious ethnic group has lost too many years.

Completely unprepared for the unknown future, they were forcibly pulled from their cradle of Shelter by conspiracy and catastrophe. Without guides or leaders, everyone in the tribe stared wide-eyed at the vast sky, their faces filled with panic, doubt, and bewilderment.

The sinners had become accustomed to being controlled and driven by the priests, used to being told what to do and what not to do, but now, with order broken and God gone, everyone was at a loss.

Just now, a merciful god descended from the sea, wings outstretched, his majestic voice filled with divine wrath, sweeping across the entire ocean—the sinners were stirred, wanting to follow in the god's footsteps, to begin a new holy war, and to obtain ultimate forgiveness and redemption.

But then they saw the "powerful god" being surrounded and brutally beaten by several uninvited guests who suddenly appeared from the side. He was almost powerless to fight back, and his angry divine voice turned into a terrified roar. The great god actually fled in panic and was even pursued and killed by the audacious offenders.

This shocking scene left the criminals stunned and bewildered once again.

The current events are so bizarre that they have shaken their long-held worldview.

It should be understood that the priests deceived the people, making them believe that the reason their race was confined to the Shelter was because their ancestors had offended the omnipotent God, thus incurring such punishment. In this narrative of atonement, God must be infinitely merciful, which is why He gives the sinners a chance to repent. Furthermore, God must be infinitely powerful and unchallengeable, which makes His mercy all the more precious and teaches the sinners not to hesitate or resist.

But now, the omnipotent god has fallen from his pedestal, just like Hidetaka Miyazaki.

It was an instinctive understanding etched into the soul: the gods were powerful, merciful, majestic, compassionate, unpredictable, and inviolable. But on this chaotic day, their unwavering faith was shattered in the most violent way. The sinners stared in disbelief as their gods were defeated and fled in disarray, their entire worldview collapsing.

They screamed, shouted, and questioned.

Why were the gods defeated?

Why were the gods driven away?

What should we do now?

Just then, a familiar sound echoed across the sea.

Drones equipped with loudspeakers flew around, while speedboats and large drones carried screens of various sizes to broadcast live. The exquisite LCD devices were extremely rare in this other world, naturally attracting the attention of everyone in the Yilan-Tai'er.

They heard familiar voices and saw familiar figures.

Even the most radical fanatics fell silent, for that man was the Holy See of Tuosidiwa, the merciful High Priest, the leader of City of Atonement, and the leader of Yilan-Tai'er.

"All sinners of City of Atonement, calm down, do not be angry, do not be confused, do not doubt, do not grieve. I am Tuosidiwa, let me tell you the truth..."

The mages replicated Tuosidiwa's form using the elemental pool, making it appear as a gigantic elemental phantom on the broad deck of the "Loyal Donald," a ship perfectly suited for lying and deception.

On the ship Tuosidiwa turned and glanced at Kang De.

The Fire Thief still didn't understand what he was talking about, and only gave an awkward but polite smile.

Now that the supreme leader of Yilan-Tai'er has been found, Kang De naturally wants him to cooperate with the takeover and containment work, so that those fools who have been fooled by the Star Palace will stop causing trouble.

This is actually a risky move, because the biggest problem remains the language barrier.

Kang De knew almost nothing about Tuosidiwa, who was the supreme leader of the isolated ancient Civilization of Yilan-Tai'er. Even though Tosdiva understood Kang De's meaning and calmed his restless subjects, Kang De still didn't know what Tuosidiwa had said to his people.

The question is whether to clarify the truth and dispel misunderstandings, or to subtly persuade the public to be patient and wait for another day.

After all, these fanatical followers of Yilan-Tai'er, who wield ancient weapons, still possess immense destructive power.

However, I decided to trust him this once.

Kang De was quite confident in his judgment of people.

He saw sadness and peace in Tuosidiwa's eyes, like distant mountains after a storm, where the mist, rain, and lightning had all dissipated, leaving only a tranquil, verdant, and serene atmosphere, devoid of hatred and madness.

It seems that the departed Aifu sacrificed her life to recast the soul of this redeemer who had made mistakes. From now on, this Yilan-Tai'er will fight for the indelible shadow in his heart... Whether it is a responsibility to his race or a desire for revenge, he knows who his weapon should be aimed at.

You can try to believe.

Of course, Kang De still made preparations for the worst-case scenario.

The Yilan-Tai'er will be disarmed, centrally resettled, and placed under close surveillance and containment. Meanwhile, the Azure Fleet has already sailed away, and the navy and air force remain on guard around the perimeter. If the ancient remnants were to launch another large-scale uprising and suddenly attack, the Yilan-Tai'er clan might be wiped out here.

Horus also recorded the entire speech by Tuosidiwa.

Afterwards, language translation and deciphering will be completed, and today's speech by Tuosidiwa will be repeatedly studied and analyzed. If the other party has sown the seeds of insincerity, malice, and hostility in his words, or even the slightest bit of goodwill, sympathy, and dependence on the Star Palace, then this supreme leader is not far from a sudden death.

With this thought in mind, Kang De's smile became even more amiable.

Tuosidiwa looked at Kang De one last time, the last trace of wavering and hesitation in his eyes fading away.

He turned to look at Aifu, concealing his inner apology and sadness.

Wait, what's with that look in his eyes?

Kang De's mind was filled with alarm bells: Had he misjudged the situation? How could that be?

Horus.

Standing next to Tuosidiwa, he spoke to Iron Son in a cheerful, composed, and forthright tone. "Keep a close eye on him, including his tone of voice, his expressions, and the audience's reactions. If you discover that he is maliciously inciting or calling for action, immediately cut off the broadcast and let other progressives speak."

Horus replied, "Understood, Father. You're such a scoundrel."

Kang De exclaimed, "What do you mean by that?"

At this moment, the high priest next to him looked over curiously.

Kang De turned back and gave him a pure and clear smile.

Tuosidiwa composed himself and closed his eyes for a moment.

I'm sorry, Aifu.

What you and your ancestors were so determined to accomplish, even at the cost of your lives—to let the people know the truth, to restore pride and dignity to Yilan-Tai'er, to bring Civilization back under the sky, and to break the idols imposed on the people by the priests—I'm sorry, but I cannot let you see such a future now.

Because Yilan-Tai'er wasn't ready yet.

He opened his eyes, knowing he was speaking to the entirety of Yilan-Tai'er.

We've been scammed!

He cried out, "The one who instigated us to don armor and descend to the Mortal World to wreak havoc is an evil false god. He exploited our piety, our courage, and the mercy and love of the gods, making us shed meaningless blood and make meaningless sacrifices!"

As he spoke, he heard waves of noise erupting from all directions, the shouts and screams of the criminals filling the air.

--Did you see that, Aifu?

This mistake has persisted for far too long. Our people have been ignorant and confused for far too long. They carry a god as heavy as a mountain in their hearts. They have lived this way for hundreds and thousands of years, and it has become an unshakeable belief. If the truth were suddenly revealed and they were told that the so-called gods do not exist, they would fall into great confusion and madness. No one could bear such a fact.

So, now is not the time.

Because revealing the truth would mean that the clergy have been lying all along, the legitimacy of our rule would cease to exist, the old order would collapse, and a new order would be impossible to establish. The people would not believe a high priest who is full of lies and who is high above them, and I would not be supported.

If you were alive, I would gladly entrust the future of the race to you, letting the priesthood fade into history. But you are gone, and the remaining Oathbreakers are not up to the task. I can only continue to lead Yilan-Tai'er forward... so this is the only option I have.

Tuosidiwa shouted, "But everyone, do not worry, do not be confused, for the gods have never abandoned us! In fact, the seal was broken, allowing us to return to the Mortal World, precisely because the gods, with their tolerance and mercy, gave us this opportunity, and through the hands of our brave tribeswoman Aifu, lifted the curse that imprisoned our people..."

"But in the process, evil false gods took advantage of the situation, exploiting the mercy of the gods, and taking advantage of our piety and faith, causing us to fight and commit mistakes due to misunderstandings..."

He spoke intently, recounting the story of what happened at a time of racial peril in a gentler and more beautiful way.

--The merciful gods sensed the spreading conspiracy. They were furious at the rebellion of the Yilan-Tai'er and even decided to destroy everything with heavenly fire. But at the last moment, they were Oathbreakers and the piety of the sinners, and finally granted the forgiveness and pardon they had promised.

The sinners listened attentively as the storm at sea gradually subsided.

Tuosidiwa spoke loudly, his voice choking several times, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps out of sorrow. Although the cruel truth was not convenient to reveal at this moment, he still tried his best to give the Oathbreakers a fair evaluation. Yilan-Tai'er owed these steadfasts far too much.

I'm sorry, Aifu.

You might be disappointed.

But there's nothing I can do about it... I can only erect a new god for Yilan-Tai'er.

Because time is running out.

The reappearance of the God of the Star Palace the Mortal World signifies the imminent arrival of a new wave of extinction. Our ancestors lamented that they should not have doubted the Fire Thief, and this time, I wish to try to make amends for that mistake.

The current Yilan-Tai'er is too weak to develop independently in the powerful Mortal World. If we must rely on the powerful, then according to the lessons of history, we must stand on the side of the Fire Thief.

Not just because of his status as an enemy of the Star Palace... I have seen him, faced him directly, and spoken to him. We don't speak the same language and don't know the meaning of each other's words, but precisely because of this, false lies may become meaningless, and I am able to examine this unfamiliar new race on a soul level.

Therefore, I am willing to believe him.

I have no choice but to believe him.

If he can truly lead us to defeat the Star Palace and maintain the era, then no Mortal World god is worthy of rewarding and praising his contributions. If he can treat Yilan-Tai'er with the same tolerance and magnanimity as he does today, then it wouldn't be a bad thing to regard him as a leader like a god-king.

But if that day ever comes, I will still earnestly plead with him to give Yilan-Tai'er the truth and freedom. I hope that day will eventually come, so that I will not have to face a hellish curse and eternal regret.

On the other hand, if the Mortal World still cannot stop the annihilation from the Star Palace this time, then whether there is a new god or not will be meaningless... But this time, Yilan-Tai'er will fight the Star Palace to the end.

Just like you said.

Our legacy will be bestowed upon the new race, transcending time and space, once again becoming a force against the Star Palace. Our Civilization will continue in this form, blessing the new era.

Now, let us welcome our new god.

Tuosidiwa looked at Kang De beside him.

Then he frowned.

The Fire Thief was leaning against the wall, holding a palm-sized black object in his hand. Its surface shimmered with light and images, and he tapped and swiped it with his thumb. A mysterious smile occasionally crept across his lips. Noticing the gaze, he quickly looked up, revealing a smile that looked rather silly.

... this.

For a moment, Tuosidiwa felt a pang of regret.

Ever since he learned that in every era, Fire Thief had risen up to fight against the Star Palace, he had been filled with curiosity and respect for these legendary heroes and rebels. In his mind, such unparalleled heroes should possess extraordinary majesty and bearing, like demigods among mortals, the last guardians of the Mortal World. But this...

I don't know the language, so I don't know how to begin.

The barrier to communication is indeed a difficult barrier to overcome.

Even with his exceptional wisdom, vivid imagination, and rich body language, the high priest, at this moment, could not convey the simplest message to the Fire Thief —he simply wanted to tell Kang De ...

"Please show off a little."

How can I make him understand what I mean?

Pulling out a background figure who's casually scrolling through their phone and glancing around watching the spectacle, and then claiming that this person is a majestic and benevolent god who drives out false gods, is hardly convincing.

Just then, in this awkward and confused moment, the communicator rang, and Malegith said, "Gotcha."

Kang De perked up. "Are you alright?"

"No, in a righteous attack, there's no reason for anyone to get hurt."

"That's good." Kang De breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally, we've captured one alive. Let's bring him back and give him the severe torture."

"No, I suggest you eat it now."

"... Your statement is truly perplexing," Kang De asked. "Shouldn't we try to extract some information?"

"Useless. These bastards see us as trash; they're incredibly stubborn," the Parrot said indifferently. "The life form of the God of the Star Palace is also quite different from ours. Mortal World punishments have little meaning for them. The resilience of their souls far surpasses that of mortals; torture is utterly ineffective."

"Oh?"

Kang De perked up. "Isn't this unbreakable? If your otherworldly methods don't work, try our Earthly approach: first, go out on the street and grab fifty beggars and ugly men, then find some animals or something..."

"--Give me a break."

Malegith replied, "Ordinary prisons can't hold him at all. To ensure he doesn't break free and cause trouble, we need strong individuals like Dong Tianming and me to keep a 24-hour watch on him. If we relax even slightly, he'll regain some strength in ways we can't understand and escape. That's a lesson we learned from the last war... Once we catch him, kill him immediately."

Kang De thought for a moment and said, "Alright."

A cry of surprise arose in the distance, phoenix wings fluttered, and Malegith, dragging the cursing Bennu, soared through the air.

Upon seeing this, Tuosidiwa's eyes flashed, and he turned to look at Kang De, who was about to eat.

He grabbed the Fire Thief, pointed into the distance, then pointed to the sky. "The Star Palace?"

Kang De nodded and said in the common language, "Star Palace."

Tuosidiwa pointed over there and then gestured. Kang De looked at him for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Parrot, just bring that guy over here. It seems like Yilan-Tai'er is planning a public execution."

"Are you sure? It's incredibly nutritious."

"That guy killed Tuosidiwa's girlfriend. Let him stab her a couple of times to vent his anger and show off our humanitarian spirit—then I can eat her up later."

"Oh my god, the Divine Machine Flow is going to eat people again!"

"Damn it, didn't you say that first?"

The previous Phoenix King descended from the sky with Bennu, slamming him onto the deck. The noble God of the Star Palace twisted like a maggot, his eyes fixed only on Kang De and the Fire Thief.

Tuosidiwa pulled Kang De aside and pointed to the drones floating around.

Ah, I see. I like it.

Kang De said, "Horus, give us a shot."

His gaze was filled with resentment and uncertainty.

"The Fire Thief... Ha, the Fire Thief!" He was both angry and terrified, as if he understood something, as if he foresaw his own end. He murmured, "No wonder, no wonder so many strange things have happened in the Mortal World. It turns out that another Fire Thief has appeared in this era... How is this possible? How is this possible?"

He seemed to understand the language of the Mortal World; Kang De could understand his cry, "What is impossible?"

Bennu looked at Kang De with a gaze filled with confusion and doubt, even more so with resentment and fear. "Hmph, Netherworld beings, there can only be one Fire Thief in each era. This is a universal truth. Your shallow understanding cannot comprehend this ironclad rule; you can only arrogantly and ignorantly question the greatest Truth..."

Kang De spread his hands and said, "Then what's going on with this, sir?"

"Who knows, something must have gone wrong..."

Bennu's eyes were glazed over, deep in thought, and then his body jolted.

The God of the Star Palace suddenly looked up, staring at Kang De in disbelief, and let out a near-distorted roar, "Where did you come from? Where did you come from! Tell me! Tell me!"

With a strength that seemed to come from nowhere, he suddenly rose from the ground and rammed into Kang De.

The next moment, the Phoenix Halberd pressed down, its powerful force suppressing the God of the Star Palace's struggle. Malegith glanced at Kang De frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Bennu laughed wildly and shouted, "To everyone who hears this, I tell you, he..."

Malegith down, the blade ripping open Bennu's mouth and shredding his scream into a bloody, incoherent muffled mess. The Parrot shouted, "Do it now!"

Kang De turned to Tuosidiwa: "Why don't you stab me a couple of times first?"

The high priest pointed at Bennu, then at Kang De, and made a swallowing motion.

Kang De was startled. Did he know I was the Fire Thief?

Bennu continued to struggle, Malegith cried out, "Kang De!"

Kang De had no time to think it through; he grabbed Bennu and lifted him up by force.

The God of the Star Palace coughed up blood and laughed maniacally, his words slurred. "Fire Thief, ha! Fire Thief!"

Kang De said in a deep voice, "Look me in the eyes."

The Power of the Fire Thief was unleashed with overwhelming force.

Mental energy enveloped Bennu's body like puppet strings.

Based on Lahma's experience, the process of the Fire Thief devouring the God of the Star Palace went extremely smoothly. However, unexpectedly, Bennu's soul burned like a torch, his powerful will resisting the Fire Thief's Extraction, and his unprecedentedly intense emotions resisting the arrival of death.

Kang De's eyes shone with intense light as he grabbed Bennu's shoulders, while the God of the Star Palace with heron wings coughed up blood and stared at Kang De with a ferocious look. The two were locked in a stalemate.

Malegith raised her halberd.

"What, great Fire Thief?" Bennu sneered, "Do you still need someone to feed you?"

"No," Kang De said coldly, "I'm used to cooking for myself."

The Phase Gate unfolded beneath his feet, unleashing a torrent of Paradox that surged forth, swirling around Kang De like living creatures before engulfing Bennu within it. The Paradox Engine roared into action, its terrifying corrosive power proving even unstoppable by the God of the Star Palace, who let out a painful and desperate roar.

Kang De kicked him, and Bennu fell to his knees with a thud, looking up at the figure in front of him in despair.

The Fire Thief's arms were wrapped in purple streams, and his fists rained down, making loud thuds. After a brutal beating, he shattered Bennu's last will to resist. Then he grabbed the God of the Star Palace and threw him into the air. Paradox Element gathered in his arms into sharp blades of light, which he flicked into the air, hitting his opponent's ribs and piercing him through the air.

Their eyes met.

"The Fire Thief"

In a desperate roar, the bridge of the soul connected through his eyes. Kang De exerted force with both hands, and in a dazzling brilliance, the God of the Star Palace shattered. Countless streams of light flowed in the air, hovering and eventually slowly converged on Kang De's body, the light points flickering until they finally went out.

This scene was broadcast live and witnessed by everyone. The entire sea saw the carnage, but only Yilan-Tai'er knew that a god had been cruelly executed.

In the silence, the Parrot suddenly raised its hand, Flame swirling from its fingertips, writing large characters in the air, which only Dong Tianming could understand.

With its ancient charm and vigorous, flowing strokes, it is unmistakably the script of Cathay.

Not understanding its meaning, he murmured, following the Parrot's pen strokes, "Execute..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw his lord, his face dark, raise an arm and scatter the words.

The Parrot chuckled, "Looks like everything's alright."

Tuosidiwa, as if waking from a dream, cried out, "You see! The false god is dead!"

He knelt on one knee before the new god. "God's grace is like a prison, have mercy on us!"

Witnessing all this, the people of Yilan-Tai'er immediately erupted in a thunderous roar, whether out of genuine belief or shock and fear, they all shouted and worshipped the new god of Yilan-Tai'er.

Kang De looked around blankly, lost in thought, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face. Just as he was about to speak, the Parrot stepped forward and placed its hand on his shoulder. "How are you feeling?"

Lahma Extraction only a small portion; Bennu was the first God of the Star Palace he completely devoured.

The light in Kang De's eyes dimmed, and he said softly, "Not bad."

"So, what new skill was unlocked?"

Kang De gazed at his right hand, lost in thought, "The Rushing Stone Sacred Pillar, Bennu was born upon it, the pillar is an extension of his will, capable of projecting his domain. I do not possess the essence of the Rushing Stone Sacred Pillar, but I can also project my domain by relying on a substance sufficient to contain, accommodate, and extend my spiritual power..."

The Parrot said disdainfully, "Your illiterate description of extraordinary abilities is giving me a headache. Just get to the conclusion."

"The conclusion..."

Kang De pointed, and the Paradox Element scattered on the ship condensed, transforming into solid crystals that floated in the void. The will of the Fire Thief extended, and with the Paradox Crystal as the center, an invisible domain quietly spread out. Within this domain lay the Chosen of the God of Creation.

An invisible force subtly fluctuated, not by opening Phase Gate, but by activating multiple levels of Phase Teleportation in a faster and more precise manner. Armored vehicles, supplies, ammunition, and weapons were deployed, followed by a squad of powered armored soldiers. An entire heavy task force completed its deployment amidst flashes of light.

"It's just that the transmission is a little faster, more accurate, and more automated," Kang De said proudly. "That's nothing."