53. The First Day, Depriving Light

Since you want war, I'll give you war.

The Mage casually tossed the Dynamo Stone down from ten thousand meters in the air. Midway through its fall, it was swallowed by a dimensional Portal that abruptly opened. Chthon's voice came from within, tinged with confusion and pain. "Why are you throwing things at me?"

He Shenyan slipped coldly inside, not in the mood for jokes at all. "You recognize this thing, don't you?"

Chthon was the same as ever, sitting on his throne, indolent, like a wriggling maggot.

At that, he irritably picked up the Dynamo Stone and glanced at it. "I do. Ancient One's ashes—hey, just a joke. Don't look at me like that. The Dynamo Stone, yeah, I know, I know."

"Good. Keep it safe, Chthon. When was the Great Barrier altered?"

"You're asking me?"

Chthon widened his eyes theatrically. "The Darkhold, the only thing I can use to observe the outside world, only just returned to Earth recently! You threw my television into outer space, and a bunch of bizarre-looking aliens were passing my book around and selling it, and now you're asking me?"

"Stop playing dumb. Do you think I'm Strange?"

"That wasn't very kind to your junior brother."

He Shenyan gave him a half-smiling glance. "If you're any kinder to him, I'm going to be unkind to you."

Chthon tucked in his neck and sighed. "Fine, fine. I knew you'd come looking for me. After all, besides unlucky old Chthon, what other god would deal with you again?"

He rose from the throne, his expression already turning solemn. White hair streamed behind his head, and his red robe billowed, overlapping with the throne of the same color behind him.

"Listen carefully," Chthon said gravely. "What you are about to face is an unprecedented trial, He.