Anchor,' literally, is a metal device for mooring ships."
"On the Yellow River, the Volga River, the Nile River, the Ganges River, and the equally ancient Euphrates River, when human civilization, which originated from water, returned to the water for the first time to carry out certain production work, people discovered that in order to ensure the smooth and safe operation, it was necessary to create a tool so that the boats under their feet would not be completely dominated by the turbulent river."
Like many ordinary lecturers in universities, the "God of Mystery" is accustomed to introducing real topics with seemingly unrelated casual conversation.
With one hand He held up the illusion of the seven divine symbols, and with the other He grasped the threads of numerous spirits; behind each illusory black thread was a vibrant life.
"Just like a 'Puppet Master' doesn't necessarily need to have puppets, but only by mastering powerful and suitable puppets, as well as the ability to manipulate the threads of the spirit body, can one be considered mature and reliable."
"The same applies to the gods. The existence of an 'anchor' is not necessary. Just as reason is not precious or indispensable to everyone, an 'anchor' is merely a stabilizer that keeps one's thinking clear, emotions stable, and prevents the mental imprint of extraordinary characteristics from taking over."
"A mad god also possesses the power to destroy heaven and earth. Whenever they want, they can turn the continent beneath their feet and the sky above their heads into some kind of toy that they can manipulate at will, and use their authority to mold all things into the shape they like."
"However, not everyone regards becoming a god as their only goal; some are even willing to compromise everything and give up everything except their divine status and abilities."
"The existence of the 'anchor' was thus studied, identified, and discovered step by step."
"Even the most fanatical ancient gods in people's perception began to seek the help of 'anchors' in the later stages, pursuing the quantity and quality of 'anchors' to cultivate new devout believers in addition to their original followers, so that the self-image they had carefully considered and determined would be imprinted in the minds of believers, and to use the prayers of believers to influence themselves in the opposite direction, ensuring that their self-awareness would not be completely washed away by the vast divinity."
After a brief explanation, the "God of Mysteries" dispersed the illusion in his hand.
As He did, the vast expanse of deep red adorning the dome of the gray mist temple shone brilliantly.
The believers behind the stars are of all ages, genders, and races, singing in unison the name of the "mysterious god," chanting His glorious name, and weaving praises of miracles and history into poems.
Just as Klein had heard the deafening, overlapping cacophony of prayers that had once filled him with rage when he first ascended the Gray Fog and tentatively questioned the "God of Mystery," the same magnificent sound once again echoed in Klein's ears.
This time, however, Klein clearly felt that, after some filtering and endurance, he was able to hear part of the prayer.
Moreover, in his vision, the "mysterious god" who was also listening to prayers suddenly became much more accurate in his uncertain, ethereal, and elusive appearance.
"So, you believe that people can determine their own destiny because mortals' perceptions can also determine the state of the gods?"
Klein still didn't understand. Although he was only at Sequence Four, he knew that there were many ways to completely change a person's mindset.
Sometimes, a mere whisper from the gods is enough to turn a bloodthirsty butcher into the most devout believer, as was the case with Father Utravsky of the Harvest Church.
The "God of Mysteries" saw through his thoughts but didn't care, a hint of helplessness floating on his calm face.
"People always need hope."
"From birth to death, it is a long process for most people, and there are many factors that prevent you from running away halfway, even if you have the right to give up."
"In most people's view, life itself is not about enjoying happiness. On the contrary, setbacks and failures are the main themes. Against this backdrop, waiting for death has become a precious dream that many elderly people look forward to."
"If even hope is to be taken away during this long wait..."
"Zhou Mingrui, don't you think you're being a bit cruel?" The "God of Mysteries" looked at his younger self opposite him and said softly.
Unfortunately, Klein did not appreciate His kind advice.
"So, you've tactfully admitted that your introduction of the anchor concept and the story of Roman Ambrose were just a way to fob me off and try to convince me that mortals can rebel against gods?"
Zhou Mingrui had no religious beliefs.
From his childhood school days to his later work, although he often encountered elderly women carrying pamphlets and flyers who did free work for the nearby Christian church, and he also accompanied his parents to several Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries to burn incense and pray for blessings, he never really believed that any of them were useful.
It's all psychological comfort, the feudal superstition of the elderly. Even after carefully learning about the origins of some local temples and the anecdotes of the gods they worship, Zhou Mingrui, who knows a little about everything, can always find loopholes in the charlatans' words.
More than once, his mother would take him to a local temple related to "filial piety" to burn incense, only for him to discover that the "god" sitting in the temple was actually a beast who sent troops to besiege the city and ultimately starved his own father to death.
This kind of living environment determined from the beginning that Zhou Mingrui would not have absolute fear or respect for any god.
He also firmly believed that humans could overcome the illusory creations of faith, making him a shrewd materialist.
However, in the world he was forced to enter, the gods exist in the form of physical entities, and absolute violence and oppression completely shattered Klein's original beliefs.
"Mortals certainly cannot defy gods," said the "mysterious god," "not even us."
He naturally glossed over the embarrassment of being exposed by his younger self, and lightly acknowledged the reality.
"The few who now call themselves the Seven Gods, along with myself and the Creator, are all false gods who gradually ascended to become gods by absorbing extraordinary characteristics step by step."
"To the original master of the gray fog, the great being who led us away from our original home, we can only be considered clumsy imitators."
"They constitute the initial spiritual imprint within the extraordinary, and are the enemies that all people, all extraordinary beings, must face."
"They enjoy immortal life, their spirit lives on forever, and will not perish because of our thoughts."
"Even the so-called Sequence Zero, or even the extraordinary beings of higher rank, can only barely fight against them, let alone mortals."
"Fortunately, their return will take time; it will be a very long process, and they will not awaken suddenly."
The "God of Mysteries" pulled aside his robe, revealing a lingering bluish-black tinge on his sickly pale skin, and used himself as an example.
"At least we still have the means to fight against their awakening with persons, just as mortals can use the concept of 'anchor' to fight against us."
Well-intentioned lies and attempts to comfort him were not accepted. Klein's stubbornness wore down His last bit of patience. The "God of Mystery" decided to use reality to reverse Klein's preconceived negative thoughts and lay bare the suffering to come before his young self.
He realized that he should not look down on his younger self.
The two are essentially the same. Although the younger version of Him is still immature, He has experienced a lot and has developed his own logic and standards of judgment.
He could no longer recall how, in the beginning, he had used one or two lies to fool Klein into working for him, living in a daze, and doing things he himself could not understand.
Thinking of this, He couldn't help but feel a little envious of the younger version of himself before him.
In fact, ignorance can sometimes be a form of pity, and the process of seeking knowledge is painful.
Back then, He didn't have such a good teacher who was willing to use words to reveal the whole truth, break it down, and put it into His mouth for Him to digest.
He paid a heavy price to understand the nature of the world, to know the difficulties He faced, and to understand what He had lost and could never regain.
On the desolate and dark land, step by step, through battles with numerous ancient gods and struggles against the ancient will resurrected within him, he gradually came to understand.
"As you can see on the steps, the original master of the gray fog kidnapped many people from our time and brought them here. We can't go back."
"Just as you now firmly believe, we have no means to fight against Him, so we are forced to stay here."
"You can choose to give up. I will not resurrect you. You can leave the Source Castle and expose your spirit to some spirit creature. Do not resist and let it bring you eternal peace and liberation."
The "God of Mystery" gradually hardened his tone, shedding his benevolent facade and no longer attempting to persuade with the air of a philosopher or psychologist.
"I never thought about suicide, I had no reason to..."
"reason?"
The "God of Mysteries" interrupted Klein's rebuttal.
He steered the conversation back to its original starting point, continuing to recount his past and the origins of the mistake that led to Klein Moretti's birth.
"What if I told you that you were merely a byproduct of my ascension ceremony?"
"In order to combat the ancient consciousness active within me, I asked the Creator to help me split off my human side during my ascension to godhood, so as to better complete the ascension to godhood of the 'Fool', allowing two completely different versions of myself to exist simultaneously in time, in order to complete the deception of history, time, and fate."
He slightly raised his hand, and the "Scepter of Calamity," which should have been lying on the seabed with Klein's corpse, instantly crossed the distance between reality and illusion and came to the head of the table.
"This scepter can serve as my temporary body. Although it will come at a price, retrieving it means I can abandon you and intervene in reality again. You are no longer necessary to me."
"Therefore, I choose to respect your choice. Since you believe that divinity has determined the weight of fate and that resistance has lost its meaning, I can also accept your choice to end your own life out of utter disappointment with this world."
"Your birth was a mistake, and now you have the opportunity to correct it. This is not a difficult choice."
The honesty resolved Klein's inner conflict.
His clenched fist slowly relaxed, and the emptiness inside his chest was filled with relief and numbness. There was no anger or hatred as he had imagined. Instead, everything was unusually calm, which was beyond Klein's initial self-assessment.
Calm, too calm... He readily accepted the answer given by the "God of Mysteries," and was even unwilling to question it.
It turns out that everything about him was fake; he was just someone else's clone, much like a puppet.
He was a useless, mediocre, and cowardly remnant that had fallen from Zhou Mingrui.
Everything has been explained clearly.
Klein hypnotized himself to accept the words of the "God of Mystery," and he was finally free from the anxieties of leaving his hometown, the sorrow of parting from his family, friends, and the ordinary life that was gone forever.
Because those memories didn't truly belong to him; they were all false.
Suddenly, he couldn't help but feel a subtle sense of gratitude towards the "God of Mystery".
Why did I need to dig so deep before, pursuing the question of "whether mortals can decide their own destiny"?
The "God of Mysteries" was clearly deceiving him. He should have seen through it sooner. If he had realized this earlier, he wouldn't have had to confront his false life. He could have continued to live in a daze under the greatness and glory of the "God of Mysteries," and as a chosen one and a messenger of the gods, he could have secured a decent position in the future. Perhaps he could even have become an angel and lived out his true, complete life.
Now everything is gone...
Having lost his roots, Klein didn't know in what name he could still strive.
Does he really have to end his own life? Does he really have to admit his incompetence?
Klein shook his head violently, shuddering. The movement was so large that it was clearly visible even through the gray fog, and it was noticed by the "God of Mysteries".
Moreover, he didn't notice at all that after that out-of-control limb spasm, a faint smile appeared on the corner of the "God of Mystery's" mouth.
No, even the "God of Mysteries," the real Zhou Mingrui, still has hope for mortals. There's no reason for him to give up on himself, who is closer to mortals.
If he chooses to commit suicide now, wouldn't his life become a complete joke?
His identity as Zhou Mingrui is fake, his identity as Klein is also fake, and his later identities were fabricated from the very beginning.
Regardless of what happened before, he should at least make sure that his life has more of his own real existence from now on.
"I...I'd like to ask you for a favor..."
Klein mustered his courage to confront the supreme god.
"My Lord, I hope that I can continue to play your shadow, help you put your conjectures into practice, and fight against the resurgence of the great will that troubles you… I think that as a byproduct of the initiation ceremony, I am probably qualified to participate in your plan."
"I hope that the value I offer can earn your mercy."
The sudden display of humility truly touched the supreme ruler at the head of the table, causing him to slightly furrow his left brow.
To be honest, humility is sometimes more unsettling than arrogance.
"You are indeed qualified." He smiled. "In this world, equivalent exchange is an absolute paradox, but I am willing to respect this beautiful lie."
"Tell me, what do you want?"
Klein dared not look directly at the person at the head of the table, his gaze wandering over the patina on the long table, speaking in a melodious voice about a calculation heavier than a thousand pieces of gold.
"I hope to still have your trust and support."
"Of course, I will repay you with loyalty. I only hope that after everything is over and you and the Creator have achieved the victory you deserve, you will allow me to have a life that belongs only to me."
"Please forgive my presumption and arrogance. I wish to become an angel under your command."
Klein slowly raised his head, staring directly at the source of his gaze, as if talking to himself.
"I think only sufficient ability can fill the void in my life."
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