The Story Ended with It

The approaching enemy meant imminent danger, but Cheng Shi was completely unafraid.

Because just now, just as Nangong's [Decay] color faded, the Trials also ended.

Although the Trials did not send Cheng Shi away, the message he received was that it was over, and he could leave at any time, leaving this Rosna Empire where there was no longer any piety.

Not only him, but Nangong's Trials has also ended.

She looked at Cheng Shi with a bewildered expression, still unable to figure out why passing the Trials was always so easy whenever she encountered Cheng Shi.

Cheng Shi glanced at Nangong, noticing her confusion, and chuckled inwardly: This little girl is too naive. Only when you actually use my name to pray for a Trials of "prosperity" will you understand what simplicity truly means!

Big Cat will definitely arrange everything clearly for you.

"Leave this place and pray for a Trials as soon as possible, as I told you. The road ahead may be easier."

Although it's cruel, I have to remind you, Nangong, not every Trials is so simple, and not everyone...

Cheng Shi originally wanted to say that not everyone on your so-called ledger of gratitude is still a good person at the moment. Different environments create different personalities, so you'd better be careful.

But after thinking about it, he swallowed his words.

Everyone has their own choices, and he has no right to interfere with others. Perhaps for Nangong, personally recognizing someone is a way of repaying a debt of gratitude.

Cheng Shi gave Nangong a complicated look and said again, "Leave here. Your Trials is over."

Nangong's gaze became more complex. She seemed to understand Cheng Shi's meaning and knew that she, without Faith and having lost her talent, would only be a burden here. So she nodded firmly.

"Cheng Shi, I will remember you."

After saying this, the young Priest gradually disappeared, and at that very moment, the sound of a whistling arrow echoed over the Kannaal City.

Da Yi and Qu Yan were both sending signals to request a regrouping. Cheng Shi frowned slightly as he looked outside the Imperial Court, then nimbly rushed out.

Before long, the three of them met again in the First Prince's room. Da Yi looked solemn and, upon seeing Cheng Shi said:

"Grandma... the Trials is over! The two players I was with have just disappeared!"

The Chameleon had clearly lost track of its target. Leaving the Trials was a force of the game's rules that it couldn't stop, so it considered its mission a failure.

Strangely, Qu Yan didn't seem frustrated at all, or rather, he wanted to appear frustrated, but the smugness in his eyes was too obvious to hide. So he had to control his smile, lower his head, and avoid looking at the Lord Foolish Play.

Cheng Shi glanced at Qu Yan thoughtfully, his expression turning strange as if he had thought of something. However, he quickly responded to Da Yi's anxiety, not blaming them, but instead smiling and nodding:

"Don't panic, I know the Trials is over."

I said that even if I can't find the "Gift of Scars," I won't let you come for nothing.

"I found the key to pass the level and ended this Trials."

"Huh?" Da Yi was stunned for a moment, and was about to thank him, but then his face darkened. He suddenly realized that what Ultraman meant was... that the Daggers still hadn't been found!

"My lord, could it be that they have...?"

Yes, that's exactly what I've been waiting to hear!

Cheng Shi nodded with a slightly somber expression, his expression clearly indicating that the gods had interfered too deeply and that the Daggers had been lost once again.

However, to mitigate any potential impact on subsequent tasks, he added:

"We have lost our chance to obtain Dizer's soul; the mission is null and void. Now I need to carefully consider my next move..."

As for now, before we leave, come with me to the city walls; it seems the World Destroyers have already arrived.

Da Yi was very disappointed with the failure of the mission, after all, it was the only way he could gain his Lord of Grace's attention at the moment. Cheng Shi saw his Lost and comforted him with a smile:

"No need to worry, after this Trials is over, you..."

"It's not impossible to try my luck on the Chaos Divine Steps."

"!!!" Da Yi's eyes widened suddenly, his face filled with disbelief. "My lord, is it true?"

"If you don't want to, you don't have to go." Cheng Shi chuckled and ignored him, leading the way towards the city wall of Kannaal City.

Da Yi followed behind with an excited expression, clenching his fists several times, trying to express his excitement. However, apart from "Damn it," he couldn't find any words that could better express his current feelings, so after hesitating for a moment, he decided to give up.

But then he looked at Qu Yan, wanting to share his joy with this temporary worker who had joined halfway through, but unexpectedly, this glance made him realize that the other person seemed even more excited than he was.

?

You Chameleon, you've already adopted my colors?

Why are you so excited about the fact that I got the benefit?

The Chameleon naturally knew that Da Yi was watching him, but he had no idea what the other was thinking, because he hadn't had time to care about what Da Yi was thinking since the beginning of the game. He was so immersed in ecstasy that he couldn't pull himself out of it.

As for the reason for this ecstasy...

Praise be to Lord [Fool's Game], for it was his scheme that allowed him to... successfully acquire a second Faith!

That's right, Qu Yan became a Hunter with two Faith. At this stage, when even many Chosen of God haven't found a second Faith, he, a [Silent] sixth-ranked player, became a player with two Faith simply because he stood on the right side!

His second Faith, naturally, is... [Decay].

At this moment when the Decay has begun to recede, he unexpectedly takes on the role of a twilight Hunter!

Actually, Qu Yan's second Faith was indeed related to Cheng Shi, but Cheng Shi was completely unaware of it.

When Cheng Shi asked Qu Yan to play the role of a twilight Hunter, this Chameleon of the Worship God Society began to constantly try to figure out the intentions of Lord [Fool's Game]. He could not fathom the deeper meaning of a [Deception] Believer, especially a [Deception] Emissary, but he knew how to obey.

He pondered the phrase, "Whether you can find that Daggers depends on how well you disguise yourself," and then did his best to play the role of a twilight Hunter. To make it even more convincing, he even tore several wounds on his body, allowing the aura of the Tombstone Stone to corrode his body appropriately.

In this way, unless someone recognizes him, at first glance, even Peak Player would have to admit that he is a Believer "Decay"!

He even thought it would be better if he were a Believer in "Decay," so that Lord "Fool's Game"'s plan could proceed more smoothly.

Influenced by this belief, he even maintained the disguise of a Twilight Hunter when tracking those players, and constantly reminded himself that he was a Believer in "Decay".

At this very moment, Cheng Shi received the attention of "Decay" and was bestowed with the gift of "fading".

That was the moment when the true will of [Decay] was understood and the vision of Cosmos Decay was resonated with. At that moment, the god who "begged" for mercy reached the peak of his own compassion. He felt Qu Yan's "begging" and thus complied with his own expectations, granting the "poor man" Qu Yan the identity of [Decay].

Of course, He shouldn't have expanded the Faith when the tide of Decay receded, but because He sensed the subordinate relationship between Qu Yan and Cheng Shi, and knew that the bestowal at this time would not affect the great cause of the Cosmos's Decay, and might even help the Faded One He had chosen to promote the great cause of Decay, He acted.

Ultimately, this is not a simple blessing for a "pitiful person," but rather a minor perk that comes with Cheng Shi's "shared will."

However, acquiring a second Faith is not so simple. It cannot be granted simply by the consent of a second Lord of Grace, because to merge Faith, one must first obtain the approval of the original Lord of Grace.

The Chameleon's original Lord of Grace was the one who "never expressed himself, never commented," and only observed from the sidelines – the Silence!

He may have seen this all along, but He never commented, and not commenting meant... no rejection.

Thus, through a series of coincidences and a series of unexpected events, the Chameleon Qu Yan quietly "made" a "big" profit.

He attributed all of this to following the Cheng Shi grew increasingly fervent. Little did he know that his master, Lord Fool's Game, was still puzzled after sensing the surging power of Decay emanating from him.

What do you mean? Did you misunderstand the will of the receding tide?

Why is there a new Believer "Decay"?

The tide just receded and it's already coming up again, right?

Cheng Shi did feel a bit confused, but that didn't affect his mood. He suddenly realized that once this Chameleon had acquired a [Decay] Faith, if the other party resisted again... then he could probably let him taste the "majesty of the Faded One"!

Ah! The so-called "consequences at your own risk" on that blank A4 paper seems to be more than just empty words!

So, should we praise "Destiny" or "Decay" for this ending?

Okay, let's give it a thumbs up together.

Praise be to Destiny, and may you finally see Predestination.

Praising Decay, may you... Decay swiftly.