Chapter 608 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

The first saintess told me, a very universal order is necessary, and that it wouldn't change in the future. She appealed to me earnestly, as if trying to persuade me. I thought she was saying this because I was the King of Humans. I assumed it stemmed from a desire to boast about her own accomplishments... but that didn't seem to be the case. “So, you're asking me to be your standard? To provide guidance on how you should act in the future.” “Yes! Exactly that!” “What happens to me if I become that standard?” “Uh-huh... I need to think about that a little...” She grasped her head and groaned, then spoke as if a good idea had suddenly struck. “Do you want to come inside me?” “No, I don't.” You're telling me to abandon my body and enter the realm of the mind? That's practically dying. Do you think I'd do that? “It's not dying! Everything I see, hear, and feel, you'll be able to experience too!” “I'm too old to live together with my sister. Besides, it's cramped.” “It's not cramped! I often hear people say I'm generous!” “I prefer walking on my own legs and seeing through my own eyes. It would be stifling to only see what someone else shows me.” “Ugh.” My sister faltered, then cautiously suggested. “Then, would you like to stand by my side, even if it's a bit uncomfortable? You'd move freely on your own feet, but I'd risk losing you.” “Do we have to be together?” “Of course. You're the standard. Like how you always keep a compass with you, I should also keep you close!” “A life bound to my sister, what a hellish prospect for a sibling.” “Hell doesn't cater to your needs. It doesn't cherish or treat you kindly, nor make such a tender suggestion. Comparing me to hell is wrong!” Indeed, a pretty sister who buys meals and treats me kindly wouldn’t be a demon from hell. The second option is somewhat tempting. Watching the world under her protection and getting to offer advice here and there sounds fun. Wielding such absolute power could be enjoyable. “No.” But no, I declined my sister’s proposal outright. Her expression turned slightly puzzled. “I say no to this and that. It's really hard to cater to a sibling's taste.” “I'm the younger sibling. Please understand my whims.” “Then understand that I might not understand you. Let me ask. Why do you refuse?” Just as my sister said, it's true that I sided with one of the parties. In the military country, I sided with Abbey, in the alliance of nations, with Peru, and in the confederation, with Tyrkanzyaka. But I always had a counterpart. I also made sure the winds were clashing. “A game with a predetermined outcome isn’t fun.” My sister asked, surprised. “A game? Do you play those?” “They're fun. You should try it.” “But you said games with set outcomes aren't fun? You can read minds, can't you?” Well, I do have some advantage over others. But the outcome isn’t fixed. “Do you know how I won so many games?” “I'll ask since you're urging me to. How did you win?” “Because I played that many games.” If you win all the time, no one wants to play with you. You have to lose sometimes. And losing isn’t that hard. “Sometimes a turned card will smile at your opponent, or a sudden whim will change the board. You might get a hand you can't win with in a lifetime. Even I, who can read others’ intentions, have lost countless times. If you count the win rate, it's about 60%.” “For something you like, you're not that good.” “60% is quite good. Besides, that's how you get invited to the next round. Someone who always wins isn't sought after.” There are times when you win and times when you lose. Things often don’t go the way I plan. But when I win, I enjoy it, and when I lose, I shake it off and prepare for the next game. “I want everyone to sit at the game table. It's not fair, and the stakes are unequal, but they should become the opponents in the game. I can't determine which wind is right or wrong. That's why we have the game.” What’s right or wrong changes over time. Even my judgment, as someone who can read minds, is wrong 40% of the time. A 60% win rate mustn’t be seen as the answer. Sometimes, I lose too. But losing isn't wrong. It simply means my play didn’t suit that particular round. Thus, there’s really no need to set a fixed “correct” answer. “The answer is something you find over time. As long as there's an opponent, the game must go on.” Therefore, I won't side with order. I won't stand by my sister's side and judge the world based on my opinions. I’ll just keep on playing the game. My sister looked at me with a slightly disappointed gaze. It was like watching a sibling who wouldn't listen. Though I’m not really a younger sibling nor do I have a sister, I somehow felt like I could understand their emotions. “Is that the conclusion you’ve reached?” “Yes.” If what my sister needs is a standard, then she has to follow it. If this is the conclusion I've reached, then my sister must also adhere to it. Yet, if there remains an unresolved issue... “Then, who will be my opponent?” My sister is special. Among conceptual beings like the Beast King, the King of Humans, who encompasses the continent and has touched the seat of the demon god, is special. It’s impossible to judge what’s right or wrong. Her actions might as well become law and truth. That's possibly why I exist. “The way you’re talking, it sounds like you believe everything will go according to your plan. Does life seem that easy to you? Hmph, not a chance. I'll be your opponent.” One cannot always engage in fights they are sure to win. Humans must always clash with each other’s desires to find the answer. That's what I said, and it applies to me as well. “...You? Weak and ordinary you?” “I’ll show you my true self. Follow me.” There could be no opponent for her but me. I held her hand and led her along. *** Nevada's hands were rough and powerful. After surviving near-death five times, Shei barely managed to escape from the seedbed. Shaking off the heavenly barriers, she flew skyward, panting as she looked down at Nevada. "Nevada is a demon god and can use her power in battle. She's incredibly powerful, but... she does have a weakness! Nevada lacks mobility!" A tree remains steadfastly rooted, holding its position. Nevada was no different. Her power stemmed from the earth and trees, and the empty sky was not easily within her grasp. This was precisely why Shei had managed to survive many encounters with Nevada. By stepping into the celestial realm, she could preserve her life and escape into the sky, where Nevada found it hard to pursue her. Nevada moved by riding the Tree of Origin. It was as if the Tree of Origin itself upheld and lifted her. Though it moved at tremendous speed, it couldn't match the flight in the sky. Shei, having created sufficient distance, pondered over her next steps. "By now, the druids must have infiltrated the supreme layer. I need to at least distract her. I can't guarantee they'll succeed, but if Nevada intervenes, they'll certainly fail!" Resolved, Shei shouted towards Nevada. "Let's just watch together. Who will become the next King of Humans?" "You will not have that privilege." Despite the countless threats to the Tree of Origin, Nevada ignored them all, her focus fixed solely on Shei, as if other threats were of no consequence as long as Shei was dealt with. Nevada grasped a smaller world tree with both hands, bringing it to the Tree of Origin. Instantly, roots sprouted from the surface of the smaller world tree, burrowing deep into the Tree of Origin. "The sky is in essence empty and void. It merely observes and cannot aid you. Thus, celestial beings are fundamentally deceitful and empty." The small world tree's appearance transformed. Parts grew while others withered and fell, as if an unseen landscaper was pruning it. Shei widened her eyes, observing the transformation. "What is that? That form..." The small world tree, now uneven and altering its shape, closely resembled the Tree of Origin. The moment Shei realized this, Nevada held and manipulated a branch of the small world tree. Then something unbelievable happened. The Tree of Origin, whose size could be likened to a mountain, did not move on a grand scale. When observed closely, people living atop it would see branches swaying in the wind, but they were only on the myriad of forked branches that extended from it. The thick trunk and massive branches were not the sort that would sway, even before a storm. And yet, the Tree of Origin was moving. A vast mass was in motion, causing the displaced air to emit a deep, resonant hum. Leaves unable to follow the movement scattered like tufts of feathers, with branches snapping under the force, echoing through the world like sounds from a lumber mill. “Huh? The branches...” “Ahhh!” “Save me!” And the cries of humans woven into the scene fell like scattered leaves. The world tree was impartial. It cared not for the fates of the insects feeding off its leaves. It simply moved. The inhabitants under the shadow of the world tree would feel wronged. Naturally, they worried about falling, never expecting the tree to move and make them fall. “This can't be...!” Aghast, Shei desperately fled. The scale of the Tree of Origin made it seem as though it moved slowly, but in reality, the approaching branches were moving at supersonic speed. A mere touch would be fatal. Even dodging would mean being swept away by its aftermath. Instinctively, Shei flew diagonally, spewing compressed air, while the massive arm adorned with branches swung towards her. An attack that made depth perception falter. The sight of the world itself as the aggressor. The vortices hanging from the branches distorted space; shockwaves tore through the world. As it surpassed supersonic speeds, the very wind became a giant whip targeting Shei. In the last moment, Shei exploded the wind beneath her feet. “Ugh!” Just as she narrowly avoided a colossal branch, countless tendrils reached out, flying towards her. It was as if the commandments of hell were stretching their hands to seize her. Shei slashed through them with wind-encased strikes. “Huff! Huff! Nevada, you crazy witch...!” But Shei couldn't laugh, for before her eyes, numerous people were swept away alongside the leaves. A myriad of screams mingled with the wind, drawing near and then fading away. People lived atop the Tree of Origin. And those who had survived on its grace were now paying an excessively high price. There was neither the means nor the time to rescue them. Distracted by the falling people, Shei failed to perceive Nevada’s presence until it was too late. Nevada had quietly appeared and made a sharp bamboo stalk grow towards Shei. As dozens of bamboo spears surged forth, Shei, detecting the assault through her celestial perception, adeptly dodged and deflected them, falling further below. "There are people living up there! Do you care if they all die?" "How naïve you are. Do you think I would bat an eyelash at the deaths of those who presumptuously leech off the tree?" "Not just one or two, but hundreds! They'll all die!" Though Shei's emotions flared, Nevada merely looked at her composedly. "Who blocked the waterways to weaken the tree's vitality?" Shei widened her eyes. It was the druids, including Nenyaf, who had blocked the waterways. Likely, the Sun Saintess assisted them to further parch the ground. “Who decided to forgo confronting me and flew to stall for time?” That was Shei. She flew to the skies to buy time, aware that Nevada had limited means to act there. It was a logical decision. "Who was it that insisted on making this place the battlefield? You intruded, pulling all sorts of tricks. Do you intend to use them as hostages?" I had no such intention. Nevertheless, despite drawing up strategies, the safety of the world tree's inhabitants was not considered, which was equally neglectful. It was difficult to hold Shei accountable since no one could have predicted that she would actually move the Tree of Origin itself. But could Nevada be held responsible? Nevada had an answer for that as well. "If so, attribute it to my responsibility. I don't care." She muttered that it was mere wordplay, then proceeded to chase Shei by manipulating the branches. Watching Nevada coming towards her along the tree, Shei clicked her tongue. "Tsk...!" ‘I need to go up. There are people living below! If I ascend further, she won't be able to use her powers recklessly for fear of harming the King of Humans!’ The inhabitants of the world tree's shadow primarily reside below. If Shei ascended higher, it would be rational for Nevada to move the branches where no one lived, sparing those dwelling below. That was the only choice Shei could make. "I acknowledge your intention." Unfortunately for Shei, her intentions were laid bare before Nevada. The Tree of Origin sagged. The countless branches, grown as if to obscure the sky, simultaneously lunged at Shei. Hanging from them were beastly, fleshy fruits. To Shei, it was as though countless siege weapons were falling. She used her serpent’s eyes to track them all, evading them with minimal movement. Yet a larger problem loomed. The Tree of Origin itself descended upon Shei. Wreathed in storms and thunderous roars, the branches of the world tree bore down with malevolent intent—a catastrophe focused on one human. There was no dodging or countering it. Shei raised her celestial sword. To block it, she would have to cut through it! "Heavenly Sword Technique! Dragon-Slaying Cut...!” Spinning grandly in the air, Shei expanded her heavenly sword, unleashing a colossal slash. However, there was no place to stand. Her heavenly sword had no supporting pedestal. Though the slash was massive and potent, compared to the Tree of Origin, it was an ant before an elephant. The slash left a deep gash on the branch, yet the branch swept Shei away nonetheless. “Kyaa...!” A dizzying shock shook her entire body. A blow so overwhelming, it threatened to rob her of consciousness. Like a stake, Shei's body plummeted to the ground. Enduring excruciating, bone-breaking pain, Shei gritted her teeth. She couldn’t afford to lose focus. Nevada was her foe—an absolute ruler of this world. Even a fleeting moment spent writhing in pain was a luxury she couldn’t afford. ‘No, I must... pull it together!’ "That's enough. End it here," Nevada declared. But the disparity in power was undeniable. No matter how much she reassured herself, the chasm couldn't be bridged through perseverance alone. Nevada gently tugged on the small world tree's branch. It creaked in response and bent. How great was the tension held beneath the surface? How massive was the power slumbering within? Once that power was unleashed, what would happen? Nevada released the branch, and— “…Ah.” Even the celestial perception didn’t react. There was no need. What could react or respond to a branch from the world tree chasing at supersonic speeds? Shei’s shell shattered. The force was too harsh for a human to withstand. Even celestial perception, which had safeguarded Shei’s life countless times, couldn’t save her. Celestial perception was inscribed within her body, unconsciously directing her movements, operating her energy, responding to attacks— Even thoughts, unconsciously controlled by celestial perception. Before a colossal calamity called a demon god, it failed to fulfill its duty and fell silent. Her consciousness submerged even deeper, taking her body with it.