Returning to Dolgo D

Cheng Shi sent the Dragon King to gather all Divine Throne friends, both those who had inherited and those who had not, while he himself, exhausted, went ahead to Dolgo D.

He finally returned to the place where the secrets of the gods had been revealed to him, and once again saw his good brother, Afros, who had been waiting for his return.

The other person remained unchanged, dressed in a black robe adorned with gold and moonlight, as dark as the night, which accentuated their holy yet alluring moon-like face.

He leaned against the door, watching Cheng Shi, his smile complex.

"My brother, shouldn't I thank you for remembering me after you've gained Cosmos?"

Cheng Shi approached, sensing that Afros's desire had subsided, and seeing that his bright eyes no longer held covetousness, he felt a moment of emotion, but quickly regained his composure and said:

"You knew all along?"

It's hard not to know.

The era of [Nothingness] has indeed exceeded my expectations, no, it should be said that it has completely exceeded my understanding.

In a short period of time, I not only met several New God, but also the newly appointed Warden... He was very interested in my existence, but unfortunately, not in that kind of way.

If it weren't for the fact that they all possess Divine Authority, I would have even thought that you had regained everything and were impersonating them to mock me.

If only that were true, I think I would die in a blissful dream.

But the reality was too cruel; they were who they were, and their interest in that girl far exceeded my interest.

Indeed, whether human or divine, once caught in the trap of [Time], they will eventually fade into obscurity.

You... you're here to see her too?

Cheng Shi wanted to force a smile, but his face became extremely stiff. He looked at Afros without any joy or sorrow, and told a "white lie":

I've come to find you.

Afros was taken aback, then joy spread across his face. As the moonlight grew brighter and his robes fell, he wanted to rush out the door, but then suddenly stopped, grabbed the fallen robe, and leaned back against the doorway.

He remembered the words of the newly appointed Warden: as long as He did not corrupt the Fool's Game with Filth and Decay, He might be given his freedom.

Although freedom no longer means anything to Him, His mother [Birth] has become Miss Sun...

Although the Miss Sun was indeed His mother, it was strange to make the Moon subservient to the Sun. This was not the blissful, Sinking paradise He desired, and at least in this respect, He Himself did not find joy.

Therefore, His "concession" was not for freedom, but because He saw that the Fool's Game had a reason to go find that girl.

Afros scrutinized the expressionless Cheng Shi and sighed softly:

"This is why I want to create a paradise. People carry too much burden and live in pain. Why can't they just do as they please and enjoy happiness?"

Cheng Shi was silent for a moment, then said, "I want to, but I have no choice."

Afros's expression changed. He gritted his teeth, as if making a decision, and said riskily, "You can choose, my brother. From this moment on, lay down everything, let sorrow depart, and joy rise."

Let go of everything?

You mean, after a whole era of Deception was orchestrated, and the Fear Faction were willing to sacrifice themselves to relinquish the Stage, you want me to give up everything?

Or is it that after witnessing countless World Collapse and disappear, and after countless Cheng Shi reached out to me and helped me move forward, I should let go of everything?

Or perhaps it's when all my friends trust me, believing I can lead this world to a future under the watchful eye of [the Origin], that I'll be able to let go of everything?

No.

I can't let it go.

Although none of this brings me joy, letting go will never bring me joy either.

Cheng Shi looked at Afros's slightly pitying eyes, shook his head, and said, "That won't be my pleasure."

He stopped arguing with her about these things and instead asked, "Where is she?"

Afros closed his eyes and stopped looking at Cheng Shi.

Go to her in your court of judgment.

Cheng Shi answered the door and strode forward, passing Afros without pausing, leaving only one sentence:

"I'm sorry, I haven't found the murderer who killed Tria."

Afros opened his eyes at the sound, but without turning around, he stared blankly at the full moon on the horizon above Dolgo D, muttering to himself:

"My Faith requires lies, so I lied to you. I embraced my own desires and used them to approach [Filth and Decay] to express my sincerity."

Ha, what beautiful words!

He moved closer once more, no, twice.

This era isn't exactly boring, but it's certainly absurd. That's probably the best takeaway. Let's hurry up and start the next era.

Whoever he is, I still hope to meet him again in the next era, my brother...

Dolgo D, the Honest Tribunal.

Even though Cheng Shi, having experienced so much, could hardly show joy anymore, his eyelids still twitched violently upon seeing the enormous inscription.

He stepped inside and was greeted by a huge Experiment Field that resembled a sand table, clearly simulating the scene of the Isle of Hope.

Cheng Shi instantly understood that Zhen Xin must have been here and had even discussed with Galiusha what [Deception] had left behind at the [Chaos] Temple.

Cheng Shi looked at the sand table, but before he saw Galiusha, he heard her voice.

"Have you reunited with your best brother?"

I thought you'd stay a little longer; after all, the way He missed you reminded me of Pelaya before she joined the Scholarly Council.

Galiusha emerged from behind the sand table with a smile, paused slightly when she saw Cheng Shi's expressionless face, and then joked, "Looks like the moon's going to be sad tonight."

Cheng Shi glanced at her, ignoring all this nonsense, and calmly said:

"Now that you've seen them, you should be able to guess why I've come to see you."

"Of course I know." Galiusha seemed unsurprised. She laughed. "Ever since I escaped from what you call the Trials, I've known I've become some kind of backup plan and alternative."

Tell me something you don't know: I've seen Him.

Cheng Shi frowned slightly. "Who?"

[Deception].

After that Trials, He called me and told me to live on until you need me.

I think it's probably time now.

So, Mr. Prisoner, what happened to all your [Folly] friends?

"..."

It seems that Galiusha knows quite a lot. No wonder, anyone who has seen countless New God would notice some clues, let alone a [Folly] Believer.

However, to ensure that his fellow traveler from the Isle of Hope was as aligned with the others' information as possible, Cheng Shi still explained in detail the current situation facing the Cosmos and the full truth of the Creator's Experiment, concluding with:

"You still have the right to refuse, because I cannot guarantee what the future holds, and becoming a god is far from the wonderful thing that people imagine."

Humans are not free to act, nor are gods.