Chapter 335: Paradox

The belly of an unknown giant beast, within an unknown continent.

The Wolf God opened his eyes and said, “Looks like it’s over.”

“The battle between those Progenitors has ended already? How long has it even been?” the Three-Eyed Giant muttered in a low voice.

“I’ve already felt the presence of my followers.” The Wolf God stood up and said, “The battle between gods may last long, or it may be swift. It depends on whether one dares to let their wills clash. When wills clash, unless the higher crushes the lower, there will always be some injury on both sides. But that Lord does not fear such things.”

As he spoke, a Holy Scripture appeared in his hand, and he chanted, “The Lord is One, and also All…”

On his face, covered with white wolf fur, there was actually a hint of reverence. This sight made the other alien Progenitors shiver.

“You’ve already pledged yourself to Him?” the Vampire Progenitor said gravely.

“No, no, no.” The Wolf God replied, “I have not pledged myself to Him. I am merely trying to understand that Great Existence.”

“Heh, and you think yourself worthy to comprehend such greatness?” The Vampire Progenitor’s words carried mockery, but his ashen-gray face was full of heaviness.

“Unlike those great Progenitor Gods, this Existence does not conceal Himself. You too can read His will from this Holy Scripture.” The Wolf God spoke.

“And then?” the Three-Eyed Giant asked curiously.

“Then you’ll know, in His eyes, we too are existences that must be erased.” The Wolf God grinned.

At those words, the Three-Eyed Giant trembled. The thought that such a Great Existence wished to erase them filled him with terror.

“Then what should we do?” the Three-Eyed Giant asked fearfully.

“Of course—kneel upon the ground, pray devoutly, and hope that before that Great Existence kills us, He will grant us a death not too painful.” The Wolf God’s words made the Three-Eyed Giant shiver.

“Enough, Wolf God, what’s the point of saying such things.” The Progenitor of the Half-Dragon spoke.

“I’m merely stating a fact.” The Wolf God answered.

The Progenitor of the Half-Dragon looked at the Wolf God with dangerous eyes and said, “Are you mocking us? Even if you have ascended to godhood, you have not truly returned. If we join forces, we can kill you here and cast you back into eternal oblivion.”

“Well then, the truth is, that Great Existence only wishes to make this world into the world He decreed.” The Wolf God replied, then turned a page of the Holy Scripture and recited solemnly:

“The Lord is One, and also All. The Lord is the past, the present, and the future. The Lord created heaven and earth. By His Word, He decreed the order of the world. With His Authority, He created the Cradle of Life. With His Wisdom, He set the path of the stars. The four seasons turn in the Lord’s hand. Rain and dew descend from the Lord’s Throne. The Lord exists in all things, yet transcends all things.”

After chanting, he said, “For the ‘Lord’, the world must have ‘past, present, and future’. But you are all long-lived species—you have seen it yourselves: this world has remained fixed in one moment for countless ages. Even after slumbering for ten thousand, a hundred thousand years, when you awaken, you still see the same familiar world.”

Then the Wolf God looked at the Vampire Progenitor and said, “After you revived, you must have seen sights in the land the Lord favors that seemed unfamiliar to you. That is the world moving toward the future.”

Under the stares of the others, the Vampire Progenitor nodded in silence.

The Wolf God grinned and continued, “Therefore, the Lord will erase all beings that obstruct His Word, the order of the world. And think carefully—what kind of beings would obstruct the world’s progress into the future?”

He pointed at himself and said, “I have already ascended as a god. For me, unless another god of my level obstructs me, I need only seven days to annihilate all life on this land. That is the power of a god.”

Then he pointed at the Progenitor of the Half-Dragon and said, “Even if all of you stood against me with full force, it would still only take seven days.”

The Progenitor of the Half-Dragon’s expression darkened, but he said no more.

“For gods…” The Wolf God shook his head and continued, “No, for any who possess power, we only crave greater power. That is the curse of power. And so, we cannot allow the existence of a ‘future’, for each of us desires to be the ‘future’ ourselves.”

“And inconveniently, we truly have that ability. Thus, we must be erased. We must disappear, so the world may truly march toward its future.”

Silence fell within the belly of the mysterious beast.

They said nothing—for they had not yet ascended to godhood.

For them as well, the birth of a ‘future’ could not be allowed. Otherwise, why had the Progenitors always remained the same few? Their followers were, in the end, merely their stockpile of rations.

“What do you plan to do then?” The Vampire Progenitor asked. “I don’t believe you’ll simply wait to die.”

The Wolf God smiled and said, “‘The Lord exists in all things, yet transcends all things.’ The Lord is not merely the Lord of humans.”

“But the Lord’s servants treat our followers with extinction and captivity.” The Vampire Progenitor said.

The Wolf God suddenly tore off the cover page of the Holy Scripture and tossed it lightly. Under his control, the page flew ever higher, and the others could clearly see the words written upon it:

“Thus I dare not presume to interpret the Lord’s teachings. Therefore I record here my dialogue with the Lord, that all who hear His teachings may find their own good, and obtain the guidance they seek.”

“—Corleon, recorded at the Flower Church.”

The Wolf God said, “The Lord is the Lord. The Lord’s servants are the Lord’s servants. And this is what I have understood from the Holy Scripture—the Lord’s teaching.”

He wore an expression of deep reverence.

The Three-Eyed Giant muttered, “But this is written by a human.”

The Wolf God repeated once more, “‘The Lord exists in all things, yet transcends all things.’ Therefore, the Lord must be All, not just mankind. For mankind is not all. It is only written as ‘human’ because it was recorded by humans.”

The Vampire Progenitor said, “That’s only your interpretation. Who would accept it?”

The Wolf God said, “You are not gods. Thus you cannot understand the meaning of ‘concepts’ at the divine level.”

“In the land favored by the Lord, you are but Tier Seven demi-gods, barely touching concepts. You are not like Tier Eight gods, who wield and comprehend concepts.”

The Vampire Progenitor fell into thought, then said, “So, as part of ‘all things’, you are naturally qualified to ‘understand the Lord’s Word’.”

The Wolf God nodded. “The Lord is past, present, and future. Since the Lord has decreed thus, it means the Lord permits it.”

The Vampire Progenitor asked, “So your meaning is…”

The Wolf God answered, “Of course—to obey the Lord’s Word, and let the future come.”

…

The Wolf God’s interpretation of the Holy Scripture, Corleon naturally knew of it. Yet it was permitted by the Lord.

Even if, in the beginning of his preaching, Corleon understood nothing and merely drew upon myths from before his crossing, it was nonetheless permitted by the Lord.

Time moved toward the future. And when any being could reverse time, there had to be an anchor point for time. Otherwise, how could the original time be found again?

If the original time could not be found, then how could one know what was past, what was present, and what was future?

Without the concept of ‘present’, the past and future would be lost. The world would revert to chaos—no present, no past, no future.

And the anchor set by the Lord was naturally the moment Corleon came into this world. From that moment on, Corleon’s existence could never be erased. His coming was the anchor of all things. From then on, the past was fixed, and the future had arrived.

And this was why Corleon had not crushed the alien races of this land—because ‘the future had come’. The Lord had already decreed all things.

Just as Corleon had written on the cover page: “The Lord teaches men to seek good, but more than that, the Lord wishes to see the world vibrant and diverse, just as every person is unique, different, with their own emotions and experiences.”

And these ‘alien races’ too were part of that ‘vibrant and diverse world’. In the future, even the Lord’s followers would not think the Lord began with mankind. “The Lord is One, and also All.” How could He be limited to ‘man’?

In the end, it was a paradox.

The Lord could understand, explain, even resolve the paradox. But Corleon, as he was now, was not the Lord.

He looked down—Hode had already died. Yet he saw another ‘Hode’ slowly emerge from the fallen body.

Corleon had not reversed his time. At least, Hode’s death was one fought together with Corleon.

“Bridge of Heroes, fight to the death, Hall of Heroes.”

Now, Hode had transcended humanity, becoming the first Heroic Spirit.

Hode looked at his body, then resisted the pull upon him. Without hesitation, he flew toward Corleon.

Before Corleon, Hode lowered his head and asked, “How should I address you?”

Corleon replied, “Follow your own heart.”

Hode asked, “Am I already dead, Priest?”

Corleon said, “You fought by my side against the gods of the past, and so you died in battle. Your tenacious soul endured to the very end. You are a great warrior. Thus, in death, you have become, as I foretold, the first Heroic Spirit.”

Hode had once lost his faith. Yet in his final moments, he reclaimed it, understood it, truly grasped it. That was why he could serve as the anchor, allowing Corleon to erase the two most troublesome Progenitor Gods.

Hode asked nothing more. Silent tears fell. The title of the ‘first Heroic Spirit’ already answered all his doubts.

Corleon continued, “Your will should rightfully enter the Hall of Heroes. But I need you to do something.”

Hode said, “Your will.”

Corleon said, “Your will can remain here for seven days. When you see him, you will know what you must do. On the seventh day, you will be drawn into the Hall of Heroes…”

After speaking, Corleon vanished, leaving only Hode’s figure.

With a gust of wind, the Northwind swept with frost. Hode’s figure dispersed with it.

…

York City bustled as usual, as though nothing had happened.

Inside the hospital of the Church of the Sanctuary.

Melia’s face was full of worry, while Priest Agamemnon remained calm. On two beds lay Cicero and Olivia, both with eyes shut, their bodies trembling slightly.

“I think it is because of some Mystery.” Scholar Rudolf stood beside Olivia’s bed, sighing as he spoke. “I thought by now, I’d never have to say these words again.”

Agamemnon asked, “Their bodies?”

Rudolf replied, “No obvious problem. Their souls are at peace. But their wills are trembling. From our research, this is a sign of erosion by some Mystery.”

“The soul we can still trace with magic. But the will… is beyond our reach.”

After hesitating, but glancing at Olivia on the bed, Rudolf still said, “Perhaps… the Pope could resolve it.”

Agamemnon fell silent.

It had been long since he could communicate with the Pope.

If not for still being able to use Divine Word, he might have believed himself abandoned.

“I will explain to the Pope.” Agamemnon finally said.

“No need. I am already here.” Corleon’s voice came.

Agamemnon froze, then turned excitedly. Corleon stood at the door in a white robe, smiling at him.

“Your Holiness.” Rudolf bowed first.

Melia opened her mouth, but said nothing in the end. She only lowered her head, standing aside.

“Scholar Rudolf, I thank you for your contributions to biology these past years.” Corleon said, “If you do not wish to extend your life by magic, you may begin putting your affairs in order.”

Rudolf froze, then laughed in relief. “I thought Dennis would be the one to go first.”

Corleon said, “You’ve worked too hard.”

Rudolf replied, “That is what we sought. And as you said, Dennis must not have worked as diligently as I.”

Corleon chuckled. “Shall we place your statue beside Scholar Caleb’s?”

Rudolf’s eyes lit up. Pointing at himself, he asked, “I too can enter the Hall of Heroes?”

Corleon nodded. “Of course. Your contributions are plain to all.”

Rudolf laughed heartily. “Hahaha! Then I can boast to Caleb that mine was spoken by the Pope himself, while his was only announced by Agamemnon.”

Agamemnon, standing by, found those words disrespectful.

After laughing, Rudolf bowed once more. “Then I shall put my affairs in order.”

With Corleon here, the two on the beds no longer needed his care.

After Rudolf left, Corleon told Agamemnon and Melia, “They are fine now, only needing rest. Let’s leave, give their family some time together.”

He turned to go, and Agamemnon followed.

Melia stood stunned by Corleon’s words, then quickly understood his meaning. She glanced once at the two beds.

Cicero and Olivia’s bodies had calmed, as though in peaceful sleep.

Seeing this, Melia hurried to follow.

When the room was empty, faint light gathered, forming the figure of a strikingly beautiful woman.

Her waist-length green hair gleamed, with faintly pointed ears visible at her bun. She wore only simple garments of dark green beast hide, leaving much fair skin exposed.

Her ruby eyes softened as she gazed at Olivia. Barefoot, she walked to the bedside and gently caressed Olivia’s cheek.

Sleeping with eyes shut, Olivia nuzzled against the touch with attachment.

The woman smiled warmly at the sight.

But then her ruby eyes turned to Cicero. At once her brows furrowed in anger. She strode forward, and with a sharp slap, struck Cicero hard across the face.

Cicero’s body jolted. His eyes flew open. Wincing from the sting, he clutched his cheek.

“Bitten by a bug? No… this strength was a slap. Melia? Must be that crazy woman! I only wanted some gold coins, was that so wrong?” Cicero grumbled with indignation. Then he noticed someone else in the room—Olivia.

“Olivia? Why is she here too?” Cicero muttered in confusion.

But soon he dismissed the thought. He hurried to her side, shaking her until she opened her eyes with displeasure. Only then did he say, “Hungry?”

Olivia blinked, then nodded firmly.

“Come! I’ve thought of a way to sneak into the Dove’s Nest.” Cicero said mysteriously.

Olivia’s eyes lit up.

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