Stop pretending, my Lord of Grace. I know it's you

Frost froze the spiderwebs, Cheng Shi stood frozen in place.

However, he was no longer afraid of these things. He felt a chill run through his body and sneered:

"How heartless! Even after the Clown died on Stage, the 'leader' behind the scenes still refused to tell the Clown who he was performing for."

If you're so eager to hide it from me, why reveal yourself through these trivial details?

If you're going to lie, why not lie all the way through and keep me completely in the dark? At least I wouldn't have any complaints when I was offered up as Sacrifice!

But why did I have to find out the truth halfway through?

Why must you shatter this beautiful illusion and plunge me into a vortex of Despair?

Is it just because of your twisted sense of humor, my Lord of Grace sir!?

So you've done it! The Clown now loathes you, just as he loathes that disgusting Destiny!

Cheng Shi stared intently into those Starry Eyes, his voice growing deeper and colder. At this moment, at least in his tone, he began to approach [Destiny].

"Stop acting, my Lord of Grace, I know it's you!"

Indeed, Cheng Shi saw through it. Although the [Destiny] before him was flawless, he still sensed something amiss and concluded that the [Destiny] before him was not the real [Destiny], but rather the instigator of this Trials, [Deception]!

It should be understood that while Deception can trap Destiny in Giggle and Mock, it will never allow Destiny to exert its own power.

The scene of [Pride) ] being trapped in the Temple [Chaos] was still vivid in his mind; with just a few Mockery Spike, [Pride) ] could not unleash any Divine Power!

At such a crucial juncture, at the moment when He chooses to confront Himself, how could He allow the breath of [Destiny] to overflow unchecked, even influencing Giggle and Mock, or solidifying it, or making it boil over?

Don't forget, Giggle and Mock are not creations of [Nothingness], but creations of [Deception], almost a private domain of [Deception]. In such a place, it is illogical that trapped [Destiny] could still possess such Divine Power.

Isn't He afraid that [Destiny] will use this as an excuse to break free from its cage and come to his rescue?

Therefore, there is only one answer: the one in front of me is not [Destiny] at all; it is [Deception]!

This mastermind once again played the role of His Twin Gods, mocking Him with the utmost malice!

Just like this Trials, He could have said nothing and simply taken Him away, but He chose to use a false story to allude to His actions, telling the Clown that He came from outside the world and that He coveted the world's Predestination!

Cheng Shi was somewhat broken.

He wondered if Despair was a necessary ingredient to become a true Sacrifice.

Those cold eyes remained silent, offering no response.

But soon the chill of the Giggle and Mock faded, the vibrant colors returned to life, the corners of the eyes slightly upturned, regaining their lively appearance, and a meaningful sound was uttered towards the Believer before Him:

"Hehe~"

Cheng Shi swore that at this moment, he felt an absolute loathing for that word.

Is it funny?

Isn't it funny?

"..."

"A bewildered Mortals, seeking guidance, hastily arrives before the god he has blasphemed a thousand times. After showering him with praise, he discovers that the god he has encountered is not a savior who can rescue him from his suffering, but a demon who fills him with fear day and night."

The Mortals was no match for the demon and was ultimately devoured by it, ending his absurd life.

Isn't this script exciting?

Hmm, it seems something's missing. Okay, let's add a setting for this Mortals:

His profession is Clown!

In this way, the character's Destiny resonates with his identity, creating a more absurdist aesthetic, wouldn't you say?

Cheng Shi didn't hear a word he said. He stared intently into those amused eyes and asked, word by word:

"Why?"

His eyes swirled, and he scoffed, "Why are there so many 'whys' in this world?"

"Why?" Cheng Shi repeated through gritted teeth.

His eyes blinked rapidly like stars, and he laughed:

"Yes, persistence is indeed the key to the end; it has propelled you to where you are now."

But that's all we can do, because my script is finished.

"Why!?" the Clown roared angrily.

Seeing that distorted face, hearing that hoarse roar, his eyes remained unmoved, and he continued to speak:

"Looks like we need to give the Clown a 'repeating' trait!"

"Oh."

Cheng Shi laughed, a self-deprecating laugh, struggling incessantly as he tore at the spiderwebs binding him, seemingly insane, and said:

I understand.

The script is indeed over.

As he spoke, he raised his hand and unleashed five consecutive Thunderbolt at himself with the full layer of [Death] rings.

"Boom boom boom boom boom--"

In the blink of an eye, the spider web vanished into thin air.

But the next second, the Starry Eyes blinked lightly, and restored the spider web from that charred, Giggle and Mock.

Cheng Shi didn't die, it was...

"Laugh--

Don't waste your energy. If I can kill you before I finish writing the period, the script will have a terrible ending.

No matter how many times you kill yourself, what dies is only your illusion.

The moment you step into this place, your true self has already fallen asleep; the spiderweb that carries your consciousness is an illusion I created.

It's no use. Your only fate is to come with me and leave this place.

"... Why? Why on earth!?"

Cheng Shi Despair. The spider web shrank into a ball, just like him curled up in Corner. He couldn't understand why he had to endure all of this for no reason, nor could he understand why his efforts only brought about the resurgence of fear within the Fear Faction.

The [Deception] that once told him, "There is no such thing as good without a reason, so I am also afraid," has now become his greatest fear, making him feel that the world is becoming more and more absurd and unreal.

Why would a deity toy with, manipulate, humiliate, and crush a Mortals?

Just because he's the Clown?

But didn't you give me the Clown's identity too!?

Oh right, it's very likely not you, but the original [Deception].

But He was already dead, and no one knew where He had died.

Cheng Shi was on the verge of collapse, but he persisted. He gritted his teeth, looked up again at [the Deception], and asked sharply:

"I do not believe that fear would lead a [Deception] to transfer the Despair of world destruction to other worlds. Since you are all rebelling against [the Origin], you should know that even if one world is destroyed because of you, you are creating 'Nothingness' as an offering to [*He]!"

[Nothingness] is the will given to you by [the Origin]. If you resist [*He], you should not submit to the meaning [He] has given you!

You have a problem!

What are you doing, [Deception]!

This was the first time Cheng Shi had angrily rebuked [Deception] by name in front of him. [Deception] was not offended by this; on the contrary, he maintained a playful attitude and said:

"You're wrong. I'm not destroying the world, I'm saving it."

"Whose world are you saving!?"

[Deception] chuckled lightly, "Is there a difference?"

"Of course there are differences!"

Cheng Shi replied decisively, and [the Deception] shook his head and sighed after hearing it.

"The Clown's scope is disappointing."

Your vision remains limited to this Starry Sky; all I've shown you are the performances of Clown from other worlds.

I show you how they constantly help you and other worlds, like the Fire Keeper Passing the Flame, so that you know that the gain or loss of one world is not important.

Resistance is never Corner!

You should know that your sacrifice is meaningful; at least through your dedication, the entire True Universe has gained experience in resisting [*He].

To halt the entire world's progress merely for your own survival... do you deserve the trust those Clown placed in you, and the hopes they placed upon you?

"!!!!!"

Cheng Shi's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the [Deception] before him. He had never imagined that its "deception" of him was actually a means to rebel against the [Origin] on True Universe level!?

Then... is He still wrong?

Cheng Shi was stunned. He murmured helplessly, "How do you know that everything you did was useful?"

I don't know, but it'll be useless if I don't try.

Unfortunately, the Clown I raised in my world died, leaving such a perfect plan without a successor.

And you are the one in the world I've searched for who most resembles him.

The reason I'm telling you all this before you leave is so that you know that the choices you make and the sacrifices you're about to face are meaningful, and that the fear that shrouds the True Universe may end because of you.

So now, do you understand?

"..."

The dramatic shift in their stance within a single day left Cheng Shi stunned, his mind blank. He kept recalling what Cheng Shi told him: how they sacrificed themselves to eliminate wrong answers for other worlds, using their bodies as fire to illuminate the path for other worlds, even at the cost of their lives, to issue a silent cry in the True Universe in order to resist this absurd and ridiculous Creator's Experiment.

Every Cheng Shi is like this, so what about oneself...?

Just as Cheng Shi was lost in thought, the Giggle and Mock suddenly erupted.

[Deception] It was as if a crack had been torn open in the opposite Tide, and endless, Frigid Wind Nothingness poured in, freezing the entire River completely.

At the same time, a pair of Starry Eyes, filled with boundless rage, opened above the frozen river, gazing coldly at [Deception], their voice like that of the deepest hell:

Go back to your world, this place doesn't belong to you!