"Just one more step, and we would have broken free of our bonds completely and returned to reality. Ogurev, what are you doing?!"
"Have you forgotten how your god treated you? Have you forgotten what you promised us? Have you forgotten the oath contract we swore together upon our godheads?"
The two Life Chief Gods were clearly utterly shocked by Ogurev's sudden betrayal. They could not understand why, after coming this far, Ogurev would still attack them from behind.
Wisps of black mist seeped from Ogurev's body. After leaving him, they turned into distorted faces and gradually dissipated.
However beautiful and flawless an existence might be, dust would settle upon it if it remained still for long enough, leaving it susceptible to deterioration. This pollution was inevitable and objectively real, but once the primary consciousness awakened, it would naturally sweep it away.
The dissatisfaction with his god was real, and so was his resentment over the suffering of his sealing. Even the oath contract they had sworn together was real. These had indeed been "Ogurev's" actions, yet they could not represent the true Ogurev.
This was not an act, much less a premeditated scheme. The God of Order and his Branch Gods had made no contingency plans for this either.
After all, even the slightest deliberate intent would have been difficult to conceal from the Chief Gods' eyes or keep beyond their calculations.
Yet there was something that could not be gauged or predicted: "faith."
It existed within reality yet transcended it, arose from interests yet stood above them. It had no concrete referent, yet always guided words, actions, and choices from above.
The High Priest had once sent Shumiller, who should already have died, to serve as a messenger, because despite his extreme vigilance then, he had still harbored