Chapter 948: ...Aph Ros |
This was arguably the crowning achievement of Cheng Shi's career as an Envoy impersonator, and the most audacious disguise in recorded history.
The gate radiating the new authority of [Corruption], the container absorbing desire from every direction, the form shielded by Chaos Acting, and Go Lis's Grudge writhing between Void and reality, on standby at all times...
No one could pierce this disguise. Even if Aph Ros arrived in person, the sight before him would make him think he'd found a mirror.
It was that real...
If even this could be called fake, then no true Aph Ros existed in this world.
So from the moment of descent, Herobos never doubted. He simply assumed he'd been a step too slow, and Aph Ros had already dragged the clown who had angered his Benefactor into one of [Time]'s cages.
'That clown certainly lives up to his reputation. The gods all seem to have their eyes on him.'
'But why would a prisoner sentenced by [Time] appear here to "protect" him?'
Herobos leapt out of the Void. He coldly surveyed the surroundings, tossed the thunder-stunned Lin Xi aside like an afterthought, and addressed Cheng Shi in a deep voice:
"Escaped?" Cheng Shi let out a scornful laugh, channeling Aph Ros's debauchery and twisted nature with uncanny perfection. "Why would I escape? Can't I just come out for a stroll?"
Herobos frowned and snorted. "If you could get out freely, you wouldn't have waited this long to show yourself in this era. Have you finished all those mad ideas of yours?"
"So what if I haven't? Herobos, the eras are changing. If everything is allowed to change, why can't I?"
"That's not for you to decide. As long as [Time] doesn't relent, it doesn't matter what you become. You will never be forgiven.
With the shattering of the Mirror of Delusion as a precedent, He will never allow you to corrupt any [Existence] believer again."
"!!??"
'What?!'
'I knew it. The best gossip always comes straight from the gods' mouths. What's Herobos implying? The Delusion Mirror's shattering is connected to Aph Ros?'
'Huh?'
'Don't tell me my dear brother smashed that [Memory] mirror.'
'Then why wasn't he imprisoned by [Memory] instead of [Time]?!'
Cheng Shi was stunned, but he masked his shock masterfully, twisting his expression of astonishment into a snarl of rage.
"Watch your words, Herobos. I, Aph Ros, have never needed forgiveness!"
The line was delivered with ironclad defiance, but it wasn't aimed at Herobos standing before him. It was meant for the real Aph Ros listening from behind the gate.
Cheng Shi knew this was a dangerous gambit. Impersonating Aph Ros right on his doorstep, even dragging out Go Lis's Grudge as backup—without a plausible excuse, even resolving the current crisis would only breed a new one.
So to save himself future explanations, Cheng Shi decided to take a page from Poison's book and play to Aph Ros's twisted desires.
In plain language: butter him up first.
He was firmly convinced this wasn't [Corruption] contamination at work, but rather the most rational and clear-headed decision he could make after having his desires and emotions drained by the container.
Herobos heard these words and laughed coldly.
"Forgiveness isn't yours to claim, either. You should be grateful you're a prisoner. Otherwise, what you did today would earn you true annihilation."
Herobos wasn't afraid of Aph Ros. Dual-Envoy or dual-faith, at their level it simply meant one more set of tools and authorities. The game between faiths was never decided in straightforward duels. Under his Benefactor's will, Herobos dared to annihilate anyone who stood in his way.
But this one... just happened to be [Time]'s prisoner.
Even beating a dog required considering its owner. Until [Time] had absolved Aph Ros of his sins, Herobos truly didn't dare lay a hand on [Time]'s prisoner.
His Benefactor might be able to survive under [Birth]'s hand. [Corruption] "never left the house," so there was no need to worry there. But [Time] was different...
Loath as he was to admit it, [Oblivion]'s defeat at [Void]'s hands was an indisputable fact. And if [Existence] was on par with [Void], it made for a poor choice of enemy.
Herobos didn't consider this cowardice. He was merely thinking of his Benefactor, of the broader interests of their faith. And so he stayed his hand. Faced with Aph Ros's mockery and interference, he abandoned his mission.
"I will find a time to inform [Time] of everything that's happened today. I hope you'll still be able to laugh like this when that time comes.
And keep your toys in check. I don't believe you'll always have the chance to come out and play."
With that, Herobos turned and departed. But just before leaving, he cast a frowning glance toward the distant Boro Highlands, murmuring under his breath: "Why is He here too?"
Cheng Shi didn't catch that whisper. All he saw was Herobos leaving with crisp, decisive finality, never once sparing so much as a glance at the believer who had summoned him.
Lin Xi lay there like a stray dog abandoned by the roadside. No one paid him any attention, and he still hadn't woken up.
Yet even after Herobos vanished from the trial, Cheng Shi didn't dare let his guard down. He stood motionless, tossing the container in his hand for amusement, looking left and right, terrified the Envoy might double back.
Only after a long while, when even Go Lis's Grudge had begun to dissipate, did Cheng Shi confirm the crisis had truly passed.
But things were far from over.
Because just as Cheng Shi was about to exhale in relief, a familiar voice issued from behind the gate to the Abyss of Desire.
"Stop looking. He's already gone."
"!!!"
Cheng Shi jolted with alarm, his entire body going rigid. He hastily stowed the [Corruption] container, then crept to the doorway with an anxious expression. Bracing one hand against the frame, he peered into the impenetrable darkness beyond and called out tentatively:
"You... heard everything?"
"Ha. Of course. You always manage to bring me new surprises.
That was quite a performance, I'll say. But, my brother, don't you owe me an explanation?"
"An explanation for what?"
"Never mind why Herobos was trying to kill you. I won't pry into why you borrowed my identity to scare him off, either. All I want to know is where you got that container.
I sense a familiar aura. You... made a move on Him?"
'On whom?'
Before the sentence was even finished—SLAM!
Cheng Shi shut the door.
The pale-faced clown watched the bone gate vanish, feigning composure as he stuffed the Door Key back into his pocket. He let out a long, slow breath.
'The one good thing about that God's gift: as long as I don't walk through the door, you can never touch me.'
'As for how to explain all this to Aph Ros in the future...'
'I'll think it over. When I come up with a perfect excuse, that's when I'll go see him.'
'And if I can't come up with one...'
'Why should present-me carry the burden of future-Cheng Shi's headaches?'
Just like that, Cheng Shi talked himself out of worrying about Aph Ros's questioning and refocused on the present, turning his attention back to the trial.
This sudden Servant God standoff had produced one piece of good news and one piece of bad.
The bad news first: Chun was gone. Whether the avenger had been banished or directly annihilated, no one knew. Either way, she hadn't returned to the trial.
But the "good" news was that even if she was dead, her nemesis would soon be joining her. Because the instant Cheng Shi turned around, the stunned Lin Xi stirred awake.
And when he saw Cheng Shi standing there perfectly unharmed, while the Envoy he'd relied on as his trump card had vanished without a trace, Lin Xi's heart dropped. His eyes flooded with boundless terror.
"Lord... Herobos?! Where is he?!" he rasped in disbelief.
Cheng Shi's eyes rolled slyly, and a look of amused contempt spread across his face.
"Dead. You know, I'm a rather famous Fate Weaver. So I grafted the endpoint of the [Oblivion] path he'd walked his entire existence onto [Death]'s hall.
Right now, he's the most prominent skull beneath that great Lord's throne. And now...
It's your turn, Lin Xi!"
"!!??"
In that single instant, a certain someone's terror shattered all limits.
...
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