Chapter 600 - 553: [Branch 1: Kingdom of a Thousand Graves]

Shi Ming sat atop the stone dais that once held the Sword in the Stone, pondering his next battle plan.

’I have a general grasp of the enemy’s capabilities. There’s Bertutan, in perfect condition, who has mastered [Void] and [Perfect]. He also possesses a divine authority that can make beings intelligent or dull-witted, as well as no fewer than six powerful treasures. Among them, the one with an effect similar to [Zero] is on a seven-day cooldown.’

Shi Ming had already used the Eye of Destiny to get a clear picture of Bertutan’s information—including his skills, treasures, and trump cards—back when they first met in the tribe on New God Star.

’Then there’s Herakrode, who’s in a battle-damaged state.’

When he rescued Amonif, Shi Ming had also gotten a clear, up-close look at Herakrode’s skills and trump cards. This former Grand Artificer of the First Civilization Cosmic Country came from a "science and engineering" background. His profession was similar to that of a craftsman god, but because he had obtained [Quiescence], his combat power was no less than that of Amonif or Huang Ji, ranking him third among the five false gods.

This was precisely why he became the primary target for Amonif’s [Slayer of Usurpers].

Huang Ji, who mastered [Life], was harder to kill. After considering all factors, he was the one chosen.

’Bertutan’s secret treasure, the [Twilight Lamp of the Flourishing World], has excellent life recovery abilities and doesn’t conflict with Herakrode’s death attribute, so it can help him recover quickly. Meanwhile, [Quiescence] is an extremely powerful offensive skill that can cause a target’s consciousness and body to fall into a state of deep silence, deathly stillness, and utter extinction. If I face it, I have to counter it with [Zero] immediately.’

’Then, I’ll have Amonif find an opportunity to assassinate and take out this Creator Uncle Tian first.’

’Only then will I have a guaranteed victory in this battle. And right now, there is one opportunity—’

Disguising himself as Candela to go to the meeting.

The only question was whether Bertutan already knew that the strongest Time Giant had fallen. If he did, he might try to turn the tables and use it against him. But Shi Ming, who controlled the power to set the course of fate, had several ways to guard against that.

’Sigh, if I could just postpone this for a few days, the Apocalypse Divine Artifact’s overload would cool down. Then I could hop in my Gundam and take on two of them at once. A pity the arrow is already on the bowstring; it has to be fired.’

「A moment later.」

He sat up.

"No need to wait until 22:00. The plan is moving up."

...

...

...

Bare-chested, with gold and silver patterns weaving across the contours of his skin and muscle, "Candela" stepped alone out of the Teleportation Vortex, a look of slight astonishment on his face as he surveyed the scene before him.

The Divine Satellite was no longer as he "remembered" it.

Countless steles, some ancient and some new, stood tall upon the divine moon. Some emanated the hazy light of civilization, while others revealed proverbs of wisdom. They were packed so densely they nearly covered the entire planet.

’The Civilization Stele Forest?’

’Is this the external manifestation of Bertutan’s Divine Country?’

Not only that, but Shi Ming, disguised as "Candela," also sensed a subtle, illusory aura. It was different from the characteristics of both the First Civilization Cosmic Country and the Civilization Stele Forest. He had, however, felt something similar—yet diametrically opposed—in the Banded Dream Realm of the Star Spirit Race’s ancestral land.

’The Dream Core Kingdom?’

’Has Herakrode also manifested his Divine Country to cover this planet?’

’In less than a single cosmic hour, the two false gods have already turned this Divine Satellite into their own territory and battlefield?’

"Candela’s" face showed a natural look of astonishment.

He showed no other reaction. With a single step, he crossed a vast distance, passed through the layers of steles, and arrived before his two old friends. He first glanced at Creator Uncle Tian’s injuries, which had mostly recovered, and then "breathed" a sigh of relief.

He spoke.

His tone, however, carried an innate arrogance and disdain.

"Hmph! That Shi Ming is just a brat who’s been alive for twenty years. Even with Amonif helping him, what’s the need for such a spectacle? You actually layered the Civilization Stele Forest and the Dream Core Kingdom on top of each other?"

Bertutan glanced at him.

"Candela, are you aware that Huang Ji has already died at his hands?"

"???"

Candela’s expression changed drastically.

"Impossible. Absolutely impossible. It’s Huang Ji, the one who mastered [Life]! Even I couldn’t make her fall! Bertutan, don’t tell me your strength has deteriorated with age, causing you to overestimate the enemy and make such an unreasonable, erroneous judgment?"

"Hmph!"

Out of consideration for their cooperation, Bertutan didn’t act immediately. He had been observing.

His appearance was strikingly similar.

The mystic patterns were strikingly similar.

His skills were strikingly similar.

His personality was strikingly similar.

If he hadn’t had time to discern the finer details of the "Candela" he’d met in the previous battle, this "Candela" before him now was indistinguishable from the real one in both appearance and skills. The authentic body of a Time Giant and the Origin of [Time] embedded in his left heart proved it.

Part of Bertutan’s power came from the "Void Dragon," a being on the same level as the Time Giants.

He was very perceptive in this regard.

"Are you aware that not only did Shi Ming kill Huang Ji, but he also previously transformed into you and severely injured Uncle Tian?"

"Hm?"

The mystic patterns in the Time Giant’s eyes flashed as he seemed to be confirming all this, trying to determine if Bertutan was just being an alarmist.

In truth, the power to set the course of fate had already begun to operate. An endless silver river surged forth, manifesting under the influence of the Eye of Destiny as a tangible river with thousands of tributaries, each leading to a different future.

"You’re using the power of fate?"

"I’m investigating his past and future."

"Where is your Divine Country?"

"Are you questioning me?"

The Divine Country, the [Gold and Silver Island], had been destroyed when Candela fell, dissolving into quicksand and vanishing into the river of time and fate. Even if Shi Ming inherited Candela’s destiny, he couldn’t inherit the already destroyed Gold and Silver Island. Naturally, he couldn’t manifest the Divine Country externally.

But *can’t* and *won’t* are two different concepts.

Candela was exceptionally gifted, arrogant, and powerful. Ever since the gods had passed, he wouldn’t tolerate being questioned by any living being.

"Hmph!"

The course of fate had been set.

One by one, the tributaries were deciphered and presented before Shi Ming’s eyes. The hidden Amonif was brewing her strongest strike, waiting to deliver retribution to the traitor.

...

[Tributary 1: Star of a Thousand Graves]

[The Civilization Stele Forest withers in "Quiescence," the Dream Core Kingdom becomes eternal in "Void"; the steles record the epitaphs of ten million graves, the guardian star becomes eternal in a state of pause.]

[Probability: 31.21%]

Fate was the biggest charlatan of all.

If this had been the Shi Ming from his time in the Endless Ocean, he might not have been able to decipher this jumbled revelation at all. But after taking over the Time Giant’s body, Shi Ming, as the new favorite of fate, had a much deeper understanding of it.

Simply put, it meant—

The Divine Satellite becomes a tomb, burying the Civilization Stele Forest and the Dream Core Kingdom. But this doesn’t come without a price. Shi Ming’s side must also make a sacrifice, which is to "become eternal in a state of pause."

’A price?’

’A sacrifice?’

’Go ask someone else for it!’

’Next.’