An audience with [Destiny], part one

Giggle and Mock.

In that distorted river of [Existence], a mirror drifts with the Tide, rising and falling amidst the colorful tides.

This is the image Zhen Xin often uses to prove herself, and it's also the image [Deception] bestowed upon her when she first entered the world of Giggle and Mock. Although she can Change her appearance at will, she usually Change into a mirror when she needs to reveal her identity.

Of course, this is also the way Zhen Yi likes, because this way she can shift all the trouble she causes in the midst of Giggle and Mock onto her sister.

At this moment, the mirror, facing an area of "absence," reverently bowed its head and said:

"Praise [Destiny], may..."

Before she could finish speaking, a cold, abyssal voice ruthlessly interrupted her.

When do I need the praise of [Deception] Believer?

"..."

Zhen Xin fell silent.

She could sense that [Destiny] was not in a good state; this [Nothingness] Dominion seemed to be imprisoned here, and the only one who could imprison a god here... was probably no one else but the God of Merriment.

Sure enough, He had made ample preparations before the showdown.

Zhen Xin knew that at this moment, [Destiny] would not favor anyone or anything related to the God of Merriment, but she still braced herself, enduring that "Nothingness" gaze, and respectfully said:

"[Deception] is the Wrong Path we took to get here. The lost traveler was lucky enough to wake up, so he came to seek guidance from [Destiny] and to find the way forward."

You are the essence of [Nothingness], and naturally you can see the truth in my heart.

Even though I feel this way about you because of Mingyu... I believe you can see that at this moment, I am just like my Lord of Grace [the Deception], a traitor.

I do not want to follow His guidance and distance Predestination from this world, so I seek your help.

Please keep him, send me away. I... am willing to become the second key to the world, filling the void of [Deception]'s covetousness of this world...

As soon as these words were spoken, the mirror split in two. One side reflected the resolute and determined Zhen Xin, while the other side reflected Zhen Yi, who was fast asleep with her eyes closed.

Zhen Xin raised her hand, pointed at her younger sister in the mirror opposite her, and said with a hint of reluctance:

"On behalf of my younger sister, I pray to you, begging you to grant her a second Faith, so that she may become a complete [Nothingness] practitioner, like Fate Weaver, able to fulfill the world's needs for 'Predestination'."

I'm willing to use this as Chip to keep the Fate Weaver in the present, and I...

Zhen Xin's tone was incredibly humble, something she had learned from playing the Clown. In the past, when she was worshipping the gods, she was never arrogant or servile; the [Deception] gaze gave her enough confidence.

But now, the confidence of [Deception] has become the most obstructive thing in the face of [Destiny]. She has no choice but to humbly beg the gods to grant her wish, like an ant.

In the conflict with the gods, this was the most "mature" method she, as Mortals, could think of: satisfying [Destiny's ] obsession with the Predestination, satisfying [Deception]'s covetousness for the collection, preserving a world where Mingyu could find peace, and sending away... herself who was already covered in wounds.

She was tired, but for Mingyu's sake, she needed to give it her all.

However, Destiny is far more ruthless than people imagine.

Trapped within the Giggle and Mock, He suddenly stirred and struggled, His furious aura crashing against the two mirrors like a tsunami. Fortunately, the rising Giggle and Mock blocked the raging waves, but this Tide could not stop the cold gaze of [Destiny]. He stared at the [Deception] Believer before Him, who, though invisible and intangible, seemed to have opened those extremely cold eyes within this distorted [Existence].

"[Believer of Deception], do you know what you're saying!"

Zhen Xin pursed her lips and nodded emphatically. "I know."

"This is utter nonsense!"

There is only one [Deception], only one [Destiny]... and only one world!

If that's the case, then what's the point of saying goodbye or keeping someone?

[Deception] He deceived himself, packaging His rebellion as an absurd cosmic story, fooling the gods, the world, and you!

Since you claim to be as rebellious as Him, how could you believe His lies that deceive the Cosmos and utter such an absurd joke!

"?"

Zhen Xin was stunned.

She dared not look up in the mirror; her expression was extremely solemn.

For a fleeting moment, she doubted whether she was mistaken, but she quickly realized that the situation seemed more serious than she had imagined. As things stood, what she was deceiving herself might not be [Deception], but rather the [Destiny] of this "impotent rage".

He actually refused to believe that the [Deception] came from outside the world?

Why?

[Destiny] must have known about this, or at least guessed it, even if it couldn't be completely certain, otherwise it wouldn't have been so "defensive" when it heard its own plea.

But why was He in such a hurry to deny everything? He had clearly given the "perfect" answer: hand over Zhen Yi, and no one would be harmed. Wasn't that better?

No, it seems it's not bad, it seems... it's not possible?

A surge of electricity erupted from her scalp, instantly coursing through her limbs and bones. Her pupils contracted sharply, and she jerked her head up, staring in Giggle and Mock before her.

"Predestination's not a concept, but... the Cheng Shi itself!?"

Ever since Zhen Xin first encountered Cheng Shi in her sister's Memory, she has been paying attention to this player who tricked Zhen Yi. When she learned that he was a [Nothingness] Walker, she believed that he was the second lucky person to be [Deception] after Zhen Yi made a "wrong" choice.

Therefore, she always felt that Zhen Yi's "instinctive" avoidance of "responsibility" had created Cheng Shi's Cheng Shi predicament.

This doesn't mean she felt she had wronged Cheng Shi, but rather that she believed Cheng Shi wasn't the "only one." After all, she had experienced that choice in the face of [Deception], so she naturally understood it as a choice made by a deity.

But now, let's see how [Destiny] reacts...

Could it be that the Predestination He advocated was the Cheng Shi from the very beginning!?

This caused Zhen Xin's brain to shut down completely. All her plans were based on the logic of the first collection of [Deception], believing that she could become the second key. But now [Destiny] told her that it was impossible. There was only one key in this world, and that was the Fate Weaver named Cheng Shi.

Now it was Zhen Xin's turn to ask the question: Why?

Why Cheng Shi?

She looked at [Destiny] with confusion and shock, only to hear [Destiny's ] cold and direct voice amidst the turbulent Giggle and Mock.

"Predestination, it's always Predestination."

There is no reason; the only reason is that He was born Predestination!

Zhen Xin didn't understand, but she thought of [Origin].

She said in a trembling voice, "It's [*His] will!?"

[Destiny] gradually calmed down, his voice growing colder. "You don't need to know these things, because you are not Predestination, nor can you become Predestination."

"..."

One sentence extinguished the fire in Zhen Xin's heart, freezing it completely. In the mirror, she collapsed to the ground, her lips moving and her eyes unfocused.

At that moment, Zhen Yi, who was sleeping in the other mirror, suddenly opened her eyes and looked at [Destiny] in front of her, mockingly saying:

No wonder Cheng Xiaoshi always calls you a bitch; he's truly cold-blooded and ruthless.

You gods are really wearing down my last bit of patience.

Laugh--

"I don't care about your Predestination, I don't care about your covetousness, I'll kill Cheng Xiaoshi and let you fight over him again."

"Zhen Yi, shut up!"

Zhen Xin glared at her, Zhen Yi chuckled, wanting to tease her sister a bit more, but seeing her Lost look, she pursed her lips and swallowed her words.

The two sisters thus staged a scene of "deep sisterly affection" before [Destiny]. [Destiny], sensing the true meaning within, suddenly paused, then its voice gradually thawed as it said:

What a self-deceiving act...

[Deception] Believer, although you cannot become the Predestination, you can still contribute to the Predestination order of this world.

I can't guarantee that your contribution will stop His plan; I can only tell you, if you're willing...

"Is there still hope?" Zhen Xin blurted out.

"... You will die." [Destiny] uttered the Magician's fate without joy or sorrow.

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yi opened her eyes again, glaring angrily at [Destiny] and said, "Bitch!"

Zhen Xin was taken aback for a moment, then broke into a bright smile.

What's so scary about death? Isn't death a release?