Rebellion etched into his bones!

Cheng Shi knew he had been rescued.

When he was pulled into the coffin, he saw a pair of eyes exactly like his own. Although the two pairs of eyes met for less than a second, he saw countless emotions in those eyes.

Regret, guilt, longing, resentment, struggle, Despair, hope, and even a hint of Envy and jealousy that are hard to define...

In that brief glance, he seemed to see another life of his own, experiencing another brilliant yet fleeting existence.

He was then knocked unconscious. Before his vision completely disappeared into darkness, by the faint light of the Starry Sky, he saw four large characters neatly engraved on the back of the coffin lid:

Live well.

Printed Script.

This is Old Jia's expectation of himself, and also another of Cheng Shi's instructions to himself.

At that moment, before his eyes could even well up with tears, his consciousness plunged into endless darkness.

Cheng Shi was sealed away, sealed in that coffin by another "Outer God [Deception]" in the appearance of Zhang Jizu.

Anyone who opens the coffin and sees the figure lying inside will not realize that it is actually the Predestination of this world, because [Deception] understands Deception best, and [Cheng Shi]... understands Cheng Shi best.

He knew how to hide himself, and even more so, how to deceive all living beings.

So when Cheng Shi woke up and saw that the body wasn't his own, he immediately realized what had happened and guessed where the other version of himself came from.

But he couldn't accept this fact, because it not only meant that Squinty Old Zhang had left this world to save him, but also that another version of himself was about to die in the face of the Outer God [Destiny].

Whether or not the other person truly becomes Sacrifice, death will be his inevitable end, his final act on the Stage of this world.

Why?

Cheng Shi lay on the ground, writhing in agony. The question rose in his mind again, but this time it wasn't directed at the Outer God, nor at the other Cheng Shi, but at himself:

Why must I suffer so much misfortune?

Why has "Destiny" never shown me any favoritism?

Is this what they call Predestination?

Why must suffering be tied to Predestination? What is the meaning of everything [Origin] imposed upon me!?

Wise One often say that the more you know, the more you suffer, but for Cheng Shi, knowing nothing is even more painful.

This pain is almost tangible; just one glance is enough to make one feel the pain as if they were covered in wounds.

An Mingyu, standing to the side, gripped her skirt tightly as she watched Cheng Shi tremble. The Great One on the Bone Throne fell silent as well, and even the chattering skulls in the Fishbone Hall An Jing down. At this moment, the entire Void was filled with the aura of Cheng Shi's gradual collapse.

Although An Mingyu didn't know what the others' plans were, saving Cheng Shi was undoubtedly a "win," at least the hope for this world was still there, and at least they hadn't let the Outer God take away their friend.

But...

Cheng Shi was not her only friend.

There was a question she had wanted to ask for a long time, but she hadn't spoken up because of Cheng Shi's condition.

It wasn't until much later, when Cheng Shi had calmed down, that she finally found an opportunity to approach him again when she saw him stand up expressionlessly. But before she could speak, Cheng Shi seemed to see right through her, and said calmly:

"Sorry, I didn't see her."

These words were like a bolt of Thunderbolt that struck without any reason, instantly blasting An Mingyu's consciousness to its core and completely draining her last bit of strength. She covered her mouth and collapsed to the ground, shaking her head frantically, unable to believe what she had just heard.

How could a Magician so convincingly Deception miss such a spectacular Finale Performance? Especially since she was already brought Stage, practically one step away from going on stage. What reason would she have to give up her chance to perform and quietly leave?

Since she didn't, it means that it wasn't that she didn't want to go on stage, but that she no longer had the opportunity to go on stage.

Thinking of this, An Mingyu, who had been pieced together piece by piece by Cheng Shi and his the Fated, shattered once again.

The Believer, who had been abandoned by his Lord of Grace time and again, broke down in tears, just like Cheng Shi had just been, unable to breathe.

Indeed, misfortune is contagious, as is suffering.

But Cheng Shi could no longer sense An Mingyu's grief. His gaze swept past her, fixed on the massive skull atop the Bone Throne at the top of the stairs, and he asked, word by word:

"My lord, are you still protecting us?"

"..."

"My lord, do you believe what an Outer God says?"

"..."

"My lord, do you really believe that the Outer God [Destiny], with its Predestination Divine Throne, can sway [Origin] and cause it to halt its Experiment, thus saving this world?"

"..."

"Did the Creator personally sculpt tens of thousands of Slice Universe, just to find a 'Divine Throne' among them, 'offered' by Experiment variables!?"

Ha, sir, don't you find this ridiculous?

"..."

Cheng Shi's voice grew louder and louder with each word, and his tone became heavier and heavier. The giant skull's eye sockets blazed with green flames, but it remained silent and offered no response.

Seeing this, Cheng Shi chuckled, shook his head, and asked again expressionlessly:

"Sir, have you ever felt fear?"

"..."

"You must have been afraid, otherwise you wouldn't have agreed with the answer given by the Outer God [Destiny]."

But you must not be fearful enough, otherwise you wouldn't agree with the answer given by the Outer God [Destiny]!

I think it's necessary for me to make you understand fear again. It's not about being afraid of the [Origin], but about facing the [Origin] and feeling the shadow He casts upon you!

I'm sorry, sir. I'm very grateful for your past protection. Whether it's true or false, it doesn't matter anymore.

I need to let the world know why I hate the Predestination, and I need to let the Outer God know why there are Fear Faction in this world!

As he spoke, Cheng Shi took out a [Destiny] Dice, held Dice high, and coldly said to [Death]:

"[Destiny] has bestowed many gifts upon me; now, it is time to let [Destiny] know Destiny its own way:"

Whether it's the fate of Mortals, Predestination fate, or the fate of Destiny...

Once you're involved with Destiny, there's never a right path, only Wrong Path!

Since He so desires to send me to see [the Origin], why bother with the unnecessary step of building a Divine Throne?

Why wait for some Space-Time Storm?

Right now, right here, I also want to see what that merciless Creator looks like!

"No need to send me to see [him], I'll have [He] come to me right now!"

As he spoke, Cheng Shi tossed the [Destiny] Dice and covered his face with a Singer Mask. The Mask was so cold that even hot tears could not warm it.

But that Mask was also so warm, because it was one of the few "legacy" left to Cheng Shi by the [Nothingness] of this world.

"Lies Like Yesterday... What a Lies Like Yesterday! A colossal lie that has left me only to laugh at today."

Ha.

That's all.

No matter how spectacular the Stage may be in the future, Clown... it's time for him to step down.

Cheng Shi watched helplessly as the [Destiny] Dice rolled a 1 on the White Bone Staircase. He raised his hands high and shouted into the boundless Void:

Fate is as numerous as the stars, beyond our reach.

[Origin], come out and see me!