Awakening

Perhaps trying to ascend through the Original Text of Lineage and become a Pillar Deity in order to fight Twilight of the Apocalypse had been impossible from the start.

*

"Li Wen, the discussion has concluded. Everyone agrees that you should safeguard Urd's Thorn and use it at the final moment. The Fourth Group has compiled strategies for every possible situation and course of action after using Urd's Thorn. You only need to follow the procedure."

"I still don't understand. Why me?"

In the dim room, only two people sat at the enormous round table. Li Wen lowered her head and spoke absentmindedly.

Across the round table, the Strategy Group leader's figure was completely shrouded in shadow. Only her steady, peaceful voice carried over.

"Because you are the most suitable candidate."

Li Wen raised her head. Even she herself did not believe that explanation.

"In terms of raw strength, I rank near the bottom even in the logistics group. In terms of planning and strategy, anyone in Group Four is better than me. In terms of understanding the game, someone like me, who has barely logged in a few times, isn't even qualified... I just don't understand. Everyone is more suited than I am to bear such an enormous responsibility. If this were merely an ordinary operation, I would not hesitate. But this concerns Twilight of the Apocalypse, this entire world, and everyone's lives..."

"You said it yourself. This is an enormous responsibility..." The leader chuckled, adjusting her glasses. Her gaze beneath the thick lenses was exceptionally sharp. "Perhaps placing Urd's Thorn in the hands of someone more capable would allow them to create greater value and win more hope. But... Li Wen, have you ever considered whether Urd's Thorn truly possesses that kind of power?"

"Urd's Thorn is a divine artifact representing the past. It can alter the past and fate. That has been confirmed through Prayer Prophecy."

"What if Prayer Prophecy was wrong?"

Li Wen stared in astonishment. "Prayer Prophecy is the highest-order divination spell. Its accuracy comes closest to that of the Three Fates. How could it possibly be wrong?"

The leader looked at Li Wen meaningfully. She interlaced her fingers before her chin and said in a low voice, "Even the Three Fates can make mistakes. How can a prophecy made by mortals be trusted completely?"

The empty meeting room immediately fell silent. After a long while, the leader continued, "Taking a step back, even if Urd's Thorn truly has such power, how can you be certain that obtaining an Original Text will allow you to become a Pillar Deity? The Original Texts supposedly record the secrets of ascending to Pillar Deityhood, but that is ultimately only a legend. No one has ever witnessed what an Original Text looks like.

"Moreover, ordinary Paths are already so arduous. How difficult and unimaginable must the roads once traveled by those Pillar Deities have been? So let us take ten thousand steps back. Suppose you truly obtained the Original Text of Lineage and struggled to become a Pillar Deity according to its methods. How would you then contend against Twilight of the Apocalypse?

"Indeed, the sacrifices of everyone in Groups Two and Three established a mathematical model for us. According to its deductions, Twilight of the Apocalypse is not impossible to resist. As long as one possesses power strong enough—unimaginable power, power beyond every category of comprehension—one can stand against the apocalypse. In this world... only Pillar Deities possess such power. But have you considered why, now that the apocalypse has arrived, the Pillar Deities who still remain have shown no response whatsoever? Perhaps... even they have no way to stop it.

"Every preparation we have made, every effort we have poured in, appears flawless, yet is actually riddled with fatal flaws and uncertainties. That is our limitation. We cannot do any better. And all the arrangements built around Urd's Thorn are the most chaotic of all. They are more like a mad delusion, without any basis in reality. That is why it is held as a trump card for the final moment rather than used from the beginning—because no one can be certain that all these efforts are right."

Li Wen remained silent for a long time. She wanted to refute her, and she did. "Since no one can be certain that all of this is right, then neither can it be certainly wrong. As long as there is hope, it is worth trying."

"That is why we chose you—because you possess resolve." At those words, the leader pushed up her glasses. "You desperately long to save all of this, even if the flame of hope can no longer be distinguished. Yet as long as there is even the slightest hope, you will devote every effort to it. That is your resolve."

*

"Every advancement requires other Original Texts..."

Li Wen muttered to herself, as though she had returned to the round table where the Strategy Group had debated, her thoughts spinning wildly.

"This may be extremely difficult, but it isn't impossible. Aside from the four deceased Pillar Deities, the other eight have all established churches, temples, and even nations in the mortal world. For their Paths to spread, their Original Texts must also exist in the mortal world. Perhaps they are enshrined in the churches or temples of those faiths..."

Since they were in the mortal world, there would be traces to follow. As long as she visited the temples renowned among supernatural beings one by one, she would eventually find clues.

"The Original Texts of the remaining three Pillar Deities can be set aside for now. Once I obtain those of the other eight, finding them will only be a matter of time... I can do this."

Yes, she could do this.

Li Wen hugged the "The Final Codex" tightly and considered her next step.

She already possessed one Original Text, enough to take the first step upon the End Path—the Witch Disciple.

Like the Eternal Path, the End Path was a Path belonging to witches. Only women could complete its advancements. This was no secret. Li Wen had known it in her previous life, which was why the group's strategy guide recommended creating female game characters.

"The Final Codex" contained a ritual to transform one's gender into female, but Li Wen clearly had no need for it anymore.

Her gender in the game was female. And a year later, when the Great Transmigration erupted, every player would transmigrate into another world in the form of their in-game character, including those who used game accounts registered under someone else's identity. Li Wen naturally would no longer be Li Wen.

Was it worth it?

So far, she had never considered that question.

"The next step is to change classes to the End Path and use 'The Final Codex' to advance into a Witch Disciple."

Having confirmed this goal, Li Wen put on the Emerald Star Cloak and headed straight toward the Blazing Flame Storm in the distance.

Her 1% health did not last even half a second in the scorching storm before dropping directly to zero.

*

Ake Town, Holy Candlemas Church, Nun Dormitory.

Li Wen woke up on the bed. This was where she had set her respawn point last time.

She inspected her equipment and belongings. Players had a chance of losing equipment and items upon death. In her previous life, one unlucky player had put everything into a Magic Pocket, only to accidentally die and lose the Magic Pocket...

Fortunately, perhaps as a benefit for her first death, all of Li Wen's belongings were still there. Nothing had been lost.