Chapter 62: Cheek
Northern Continent.
Amanises took the characteristics of the prince of abolition and put them in her kingdom. While Aucuses held the black crown, the uniqueness of black emperor.
Suddenly, Aucuses fell into a trance as memories of the fight flooded his mind.
He smiled wryly, as he considered the words of creator.
The Creator especially blessed him. He honestly didn't know what to think about it.
Moving on, he is also not surprised that Creator was able to find that he knew 'His' identity and has seen though 'His' disguise of Adam. As 'He' stated, this has nothing to do with power; 'He' really knew him very well.
Aucuses was well aware that this would be revealed in some way in the future. So, this came as no surprise to him.
He now has an educated guess as to how much Adam truly possesses, and this guess doesn't include chaos sea.
All he can say is that Adam is freaking powerful. He really hates "visionary."
But, he understands why the creator chose the visionary path; it has too many advantages for 'Him,' as 'He' said in original timeline, and it's truly the best way for one to become god almighty in the end.
He, on the other hand, was not the type to back down in the face of an impossible challenge just like this. He would not have been able to become who he is now if he had been someone like that.
Finally, he was also free of the doubt that had plagued him for so long. As, he got the answer from the creator.
The creator possessed omniscience. So, why wasn't 'He' aware of his betrayal beforehand? If 'He' had known about it, he would not have reacted the way 'He' did when he stabbed 'Him' in the heart.
Now, Aucuses has the answer: it's because God Almighty tampered with the Creator's omniscience, leaving the Creator in the dark about the betrayal of 'His' angels.
But, this only raised more questions in his mind.
Why would the Almighty do such a thing? After all, the creator was on the verge of becoming a pillar. The chances of successfully awakening of God Almighty in the creator were extremely high. Even if the creator's plan was successful in the end and they did not betray 'Him', there is still a significant risk and possibility.
However, God Almighty indirectly influenced the fall of the ancient sun god.
Was this all part of Almighty's grand plan?
Was his fate then too controlled in the past?
Is his meeting with the creator also arranged?
The questions that arose in his heart nearly caused an existential crisis and made him to question everything.
He is not being overly dramatic. But, pillars are truly that terrifying. God Almighty is also on par with the Lord of Mysteries. Given the terrifying plans left behind by the Lord of Mysteries, he did not believe that God Almighty had left nothing...
'Let's deal with things as they come...' As he pressed his worries and anxiety, Aucuses finally thought. Other than that, there was nothing else he could do. After all, he was now too weak in comparison to them, so all he focused on now was getting stronger.
'Oh…' Aucuses' heart was filled with bitterness as he remembered the creator taking him before the barrier and making him see into the cosmos. 'It's ironic that, despite everything I did to get rid of my weakness, nothing seemed to have changed in the end.'
"Did you lose?" Amanises' voice drew him out of his reverie. His bitterness was washed away as he focused on her and the situation on the hand, returning to his calm self.
"Yes." Aucuses nodded, while Amanises' eyes become deep and thoughtful.
"The book fell into his hands." Aucuses said, turning to face her, while putting the uniqueness of the black emperor aside. "Adam is one step closer to Godhood." He said it to Amanines on purpose.
"So, the book is the sequence 1 characteristic." Amanises muttered and continued in a soothing tone. "However, considering everything, your loss was justified. I was also taken aback when I saw the Ankelwelt rising to the sky."
"Don't you think visionary authority is rigged?" Aucuses said with a wry smile.
"Authority of visionary has an advantage." Amanises nodded, but she continued. "However, it gives the impression that it is "Rigged" and "Terrifying" to many, only because of Adam. After all, not everyone has a cathedral built from the bones and corpses of gods."
"Do you think there will be Flegrea's bones in that cathedral?" Aucuses asked, as he looked at Amanises' hairy arms.
Amanises fell silent for a moment, and she did not return to divine form from mythical creature form, even under Aucuses' gaze.
"It doesn't matter if 'He' has that wolf's corpse." She said this as she floated in front of him, her lips curved into a smile visible through her gauze. "After all, 'He' is not my adversary, unlike for you." She paused, as if she was contemplating something, and then she finally spoke.
"Aucuses, tread carefully. 'He' is not as simple as 'He' appears."
Aucuses' smile faded and he looked at her solemnly. He enquired. "Why are you telling me this, Amanises?"
"I don't think of you as someone who could be kind and generous for no reason. Especially to me, who has stood against you, many times in the past."
Amanises said. "The future is bleak, Aucuses." With her finger, she pointed to the cosmos. "In comparison to the dangers that we will face, the minor differences between us are insignificant."
"Oh?" Aucuses asked, "Is that a proposal for an alliance?"
"No." Amanises said ethereally. "Think of it as insurance for a better future."
Aucuses just gazed at Amanises, not asking any further questions into this.
"Come on." Then, he said. "There is still another war of gods going on in the sea of ruins. It's best if we go there..."
Suddenly, Aucuses paused and raised his gaze to the astral world.
He grumbled. "Bethel has a lot of guts to keep going against us."
"Forget about Bethel." Amanises dismissed him, as she gazed at the Astral world. "Are you going to put a stop to Cheek's ascension?"
"No." Aucuses stated flatly. "Do you?"
Amanises remained silent, which indicated her position.
"Well." Aucuses said with a smile. "Her ascension will, at the very least, end the war of gods and usher in the new era with beautiful fireworks."
"Fireworks.." Amanises said in a strange tone, looking at him. "At the very least, Aucuses, try to be serious. Her ascension will bring disaster second only to cataclysm."
Aucuses shrugged. "We're not leaving anyway. Others who are fighting will stop as soon as they sense this and will immediately support at that time. So, there will be no problems."
Amanises and Aucuses didn't speak further, as they noticed the start of the apotheosis ritual in the astral world.
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The astral world.
Cheek, The King of Angels of Demoness Pathway, stood in front of vast cracks in reality caused by the war of gods.
She knew it was time. Her dream is almost a reality. She endured all the agony and pain for this dream. Finally, she was here; for a brief moment, it seemed surreal that she had made it despite everything.
"Cheek, are you sure?" Bethel inquired, standing not far away. "Aucuses and Amanises are already focusing here."
"It doesn't make a difference." Cheek smiled, her smile was enough to enchant everyone, regardless of gender. "There is no better chance than this, Bethel. I'm almost there. I'm not backing down at the last minute."
"Bethel, I owe you one." She carried on. "For doing this."
She was only able to arrive in the astral world and even close to the remains of the Battle of the Gods due to the assistance of Bethel, while he, by doing so, contradicted the six gods once more.
"It's nothing." Bethel shook his head. "To be honest, I always expected you to be the first of the three of us to become a god, given your reckless and decisive nature."
"You're also not far from Godhood." Cheek stated as she turned to face him. "If you ever decide to advance. In the war, I will be on your side." She made a promise.
"War? How come you say that?" Bethel inquired, somewhat sceptically.
"I have a feeling the six gods will not be happy, especially....." Cheek paused, pointing to the colossal golden sun at the centre of the solar system. "So, if you choose to ascend. I'll be on your side."
As he gazed at the golden sun, Bethel remained silent.
Finally, he said.
"Let's leave that for later."
"There isn't much time left, so best of luck, Cheek."
His figure dissolved into blue starry dust.
Cheek looked at the starry dust in silence for a moment, before looking forward.
She started walking towards the cracks in the very fabric of reality....