# Chapter 13: The Time of Arrival, Part 3, The People (7600)
In the Silent Void, an "invisible world" that could not be observed by any means of detection was almost completely assimilated into the surrounding darkness. Even when viewed up close, it seemed merely like a slightly larger piece of world wreckage.
However, this seemingly ruined world contained power beyond ordinary imagination.
Many often said that stars were like beautiful gems adorning the universe, releasing incomparably magnificent radiance. Through this, the gems buried deep underground also acquired divinity. The ancients endowed them with various meanings, praised their beauty and value, and even polished and carved them to wear on their hands, allowing this radiance to accompany them always.
These emotions, even in the distant future relative to the ancients, had not changed in the slightest.
Because now, people had finally set those magnificent gems adorning the universe into the "ring" they had forged among the stars.
Year 855 of the Falling Stars Era, January 1st, 5:52 PM Mycroft World Standard Time, Unnamed World in the Silent Void, Aether Ring World.
Everything was silent darkness, like a rest more peaceful than eternal slumber. The world, whose interior had been artificially hollowed out, was maintained by the power of divine runes—but in the center of this silence, one could hear the soundless wind stirring. The solar wind blew, stirring the flow of negative entropy in the darkness.
That was a golden gem, dazzling and brilliant, containing incomparable vitality. Countless life races in the multiverse were born bathed in this radiance. And in the Abyss, how many races that had lost this radiance killed and struggled with all their might, only to obtain it once more.
And a slightly rotating "ring" was calmly revolving around this gem, as if it would continue until the end of eternity.
"The ring world is about to be completed, Nostradamus."
To ordinary people, this world with only one star and one ring seemed utterly dark and desolate. Except for the "faint" spark at the center, everywhere else was cold vacuum—but in the eyes of Transcendents, they could see much more. For example, a magnificent cycle that surrounded the entire world, maintained the balance of everything, and formed a world-scale Aether formation. The Aether formation, named "Ethereal Sanctuary," had a purpose as ordinary people saw it: to transform the entire world's sense of existence into the same cold nothingness as the Silent Void, becoming "ethereal dust."
And within this dark cycle, two points of light were communicating.
"Thanks to Lord Radcliffe, we completed this project in only one-tenth of the originally planned time—even gods can't transport mass from world to world one by one; that would be too troublesome."
The golden point of light was above the nearly completed silver ring world. It was communicating with a deep blue point of light, its tone emotional: "Accommodating the Mycroft Civilization? It's more than enough. In the past, countless gods boasted of how beautiful, how abundant, how boundless their divine kingdoms were, but only our generation of gods has brought heaven down to earth."
"Yes."
The deep blue humanoid seemed to be gazing at this place across distant time and space. It appeared to be merely an avatar, but that didn't hinder communication. The old mage murmured softly: "Everything you and I dreamed of has nearly been realized—but a truly equal and free society needs to be established on a perfect and flawless kingdom. In the past, we searched hard for how to build it, but now it seems the answer is simple."
"Since reality doesn't exist, we'll just build it ourselves."
All human conflicts arise from inequality, from the clash of desires... Everyone has desires, and because of narrow lands and narrow spaces, different desires always gather in one place, leading to conflict. This can't be called right or wrong; it only proves that there is still beastliness in human nature.
But now, can human desires maintain their original form in this ring world millions of times larger than ordinary worlds?
In the future, can the root of all conflict still ignite the spark called strife under the simultaneous watch of the Seven Gods and the Legendaries?
"I don't know. Even now, the Empire, and indeed the entire Mycroft Civilization, has nearly no crime. Even though Transcendent power has become nearly universal, and various academies and training institutions have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, even though the Magic Net connects countless civilizations across the Multiverse Star River into a harmonious alliance, I still can't be certain whether the future will move in the direction we hope."
The golden humanoid burned with the radiance of divine power. The tone of the new God of Might and Justice was the same as when he was still human. Though he used a question, it sounded like unwavering conviction: "But gods don't corrupt—at least not before death. So until I am annihilated, this path must continue, until either the 'arriving' or the 'distant' future."
"Gods don't corrupt, huh..."
Nostradamus chewed on these words, gazing at the ring world before him—on the back of that enormous world was a rune representing the God of Steel. It was a circle, representing completeness, perfection, eternal unchanging motionlessness, and a vertical line pierced through it, dividing the circle in two.
What was the meaning of that?
"Is Radcliffe a god?"
The old mage murmured as if to himself: "The 'Pan-Multiverse Star River Civilization Joint Council' established three years ago was built upon the Mycroft Civilization—strictly speaking, upon the power of the individual Joshua van Radcliffe. Many low-level civilizations worship his battle avatar, and countless high-level civilizations reverently classify him as a 'god.' Sometimes, I can never quite distinguish—is connecting to the Great Source what makes a god, or is an individual who meets various conditions and possesses great power a god?"
"You know, from the latest information coming through the Magic Net, he is still that Joshua, and he has never corrupted. So I've always wondered, could he be a deity descended from the Great Source, merely born in the shell of a human?"
"Good question, teacher."
Hearing this question, the golden divine light trembled, as if laughing: "I occasionally feel that compared to him, I'm the one who doesn't seem like a god. I've even thought about this carefully—like whether Joshua secretly received some divine power directly infused by the Great Source, enabling him to progress so quickly—but to answer this question, we first need to say what a god truly is."
"When I was still human, I encountered much injustice. I experienced absolute evil in a disintegrating empire. I saw the tears of countless people crying because of this evil. I denied that this 'evil' was the fate of a nation, or even a society."
"So, I burned with anger to reform it, to destroy the old one, wanting to transform it into what I desired—I tried to struggle against fate, but I nearly failed. You know, I sat half-dead on the imperial throne for how many years."
"If I were an ordinary person, at this point, I would have failed, then been depressed for life, until I either accepted reality or died."
The God of Might pointed at the ring world before him. His tone was calm, but one could hear a hint of joy and determination: "But I didn't. Perhaps by coincidence, perhaps by necessity, I overcame fate, allowing the kingdom I desired to descend at least partially into reality."
Looking at the old mage's face, which seemed to want to say something, the golden divine form shook its head: "You think I'm saying that those who overcome fate are called gods? Wrong, that's not it. I didn't overcome fate; I merely responded to the longing of all beings, allowing the power of hope to be added to me."
"Teacher Nostradamus, a god is one who responds to the wishes of all beings."
Saying this, the God of Justice raised his head, looking toward the end of the dark world. He spoke in a solemn tone: "People respond to wishes, pray for the future. They desire better change but are trapped without power—and gods are beings who hold power, respond to wishes, create the future, and turn change into reality."
"Is Lord Radcliffe a god? Without a doubt, he is. He holds power, he created the future, he changed this Multiverse Star River, changed the fate of you and me—if this isn't a god, then what is?"
"The only question is, if Lord Radcliffe is a god, then what wish did he respond to when he was born?"
There was no answer to this question.
Because suddenly, the God of Might and Justice, who had been chatting with his old teacher and friend, visibly blanked out for a moment. He tilted his head as if listening, then his expression turned grave.
He seemed to have heard something.
Year 855 of the Falling Stars Era, January 2nd, 7:52 AM Mycroft World Standard Time, Multiverse Star River Origin Star River, Jetram Star Domain, Star Gate Void Base.
Surrounding the large Star Gate Void Base were numerous small void settlements, most of which were areas where Star Gate maintenance personnel were stationed. However, some surplus settlements were sold to wealthy and powerful individuals to recoup construction funds.
That said, being settlements around the Star Gate Void Base, if one had to make an analogy, it would be like a seaside villa built next to the Seven Sacred Mountains in the old days. This wasn't a place one could live just by being rich and powerful; one needed corresponding strength to qualify to settle here.
And the legendary swordsman, and current head of the Kaos Family, Brandon Kaos, naturally had this qualification.
Passing through the anchor point of the ornately decorated void settlement, bypassing the private void shuttle that had been locked in time and space, opening the thick rune-carved door, one could see that this settlement was made very warm and cozy. The seemingly solid wood walls, the white marble decorations, and the pale golden crystal lamps hanging from the ceiling all indicated that the owner of this settlement had undoubtedly treated it as a "home."
But at this moment, within the settlement, whether in the spacious hall, the backyard that directly overlooked the void, or even the bedroom, there was no one. One could only hear the buzzing sound of what seemed to be a communication array connecting from the study.
"Hello? Can you hear me? Dad? Mom?"
In the study, amidst suppressed breathing, accompanied by the suddenly louder buzzing, a mature female voice sounded: "Sorry, the signal isn't great here, the connection took a bit long."
One could see, in the spacious study, the tall blonde swordsman held his breath, embracing his wife with violet hair, quietly facing a light screen—and behind the light screen, a blonde woman with a bright smile was making a V-sign at them, greeting: "My work has been going well lately. Under the guidance of the Knowledge Seizers, we've excavated several more large civilization ruins from around the 'Era of Demons'! Now we've found this civilization ruin in the Biros Star River; it's practically 'Pioneer' level!"
Due to the high video delay, the sound and picture were slightly out of sync, but Brandon and Verdani present didn't mind. The blonde swordsman opened his mouth as if to say something, but the violet-haired mage spoke first, her tone somewhat cautious: "Then, Furan, about how much longer will you need before you can come back?"
"About... four or five years?" Behind the light screen, the blonde woman thought for a moment, then gave a vague answer: "Sigh, after all, this is a Pioneer-level great ruin. It's said to contain some intact documents from the 'Sage of Demons' era. If we can excavate it, it will definitely be a galaxy-shaking discovery. I can't leave for now."
"And I'm at least the leader of a professional ruin exploration team. During the initial excavation phase, I can't get away."
"Your sister is running all over the galaxy following diplomatic fleets, saying she's studying 'multicivilizational culture' and wants to write a 'Chronicle of Multiverse Civilizations.' She won't be back for several years either..." At this point, Brandon couldn't help but speak, complaining softly: "In these ten years, you've come home no more than ten times... Now another four or five years without seeing you—your mother and I..."
"...Dad, I stopped being a little girl who needs you to take care of me a long time ago." Interrupting Brandon's words, the blonde woman couldn't quite smile. Her expression was somewhat unnatural: "There's real-time communication, there are teleportation arrays, and I occasionally send local specialties back... Besides, coming home isn't very interesting. Everyone always says I'm 'the legendary strongman's daughter,' still treating me like a little girl. I really hate that attitude..."
"Although I know you Transcendent strongmen have long lifespans, and at my age I probably really am just a little girl, still, I want to be seen and respected as an independent 'person.'"
"Oh... I understand. Then keep up the good work..."
The legendary strongman Brandon had once cut the solar corona with a single sword strike, killed several ultra-dangerous Ultimate-level creatures in subsequent extreme crises, and even single-handedly killed a Void Behemoth that had gone mad for unknown reasons three years ago. His name was known across many civilizations, and he was quite famous in the Multiverse Star River Civilization Invitational Tournament.
But now, facing his increasingly independent daughter behind the light screen, he looked wronged, uncomfortable, unable to speak—like an abandoned old father: "If you have any difficulties, remember to tell us at home. We'll always be your support..."
"Mm, I know. Love you, Dad, and Mom, MWA~" Showing a bright smile, the woman behind the light screen made a kissing gesture at the screen. Verdani glanced triumphantly at her disheartened husband, then made a somewhat unskilled kissing gesture herself: "MWA~ Mom loves you too. By the way, do you want me to send some supplies to your sister and you..."
Crack.
Suddenly, the call was cut off.
Boom!
Originally, Brandon now looked like a rejected old father, an old man who didn't even know how to speak. But the moment the video cut off, his entire body suddenly erupted with terrifying momentum, shaking the surrounding void, releasing incomparable radiance—like a divine sword that, once drawn, could extinguish stars and sever immortality.
The blonde swordsman stood up, his gaze heavy as he looked at the communication light screen before him, while the violet-haired mage beside him still hadn't quite reacted.
"What's wrong, dear?"
Though somewhat confused, Verdani was after all a high-ranking Transcendent noble. She quickly reacted: "The communication cut off... Did something happen to Furan!?"
"...Yes."
Brandon's tone was unprecedentedly heavy. He narrowed his eyes, and the casual clothes on his body began to change, scattering into particles of light and then condensing, finally forming a suit of light combat armor: "I sensed it. Before the video cut off, where Furan was, there seemed to be a trace of 'Chaos' aura."
Saying this, he manipulated the light screen, turning the communication screen that had gone completely black into a simulated star map of the Multiverse Star River.
There, one could see that the Biros Star River was located at the edge of the Multiverse Star River, just like the Origin Star River, pressed tightly against the Silent Void.
He seemed to understand something.
"I need to set out, dear."
Brandon said this, without any impassioned speech, just the "naturalness" of a father preparing to go rescue his daughter: "You go notify the Seven Gods, saying that the 'omen' has appeared."
"The Year of Arrival has already come."
Year 855 of the Falling Stars Era, January 3rd, 2:38 AM Mycroft World Standard Time, Lost Star River Mycroft World, Myriad Realms Sacrificial Ground Surroundings, Holy Mountain Fortress.
Atop the former Holy Mountain, engraved with the words "Lone Sun, Twin Moons, Endless Stars, Thousand-Year Plain, Only Light Eternal," was the Great Temple. Now, in the control center of the Holy Mountain Fortress, a white-haired, golden-eyed old man sat in his chair. In the empty hall, he conversed with a Paladin who appeared quite young.
"I don't want to inherit your crown."
The seemingly young knight, if examined closely, would be surprisingly found to be a Legendary strongman. Surging Holy Light formed a solid armor covering his body. Behind the seemingly rough armor were intricate holy patterns so complex that even calculation arrays would need several days to analyze. Now, this Legendary strongman was shaking his head at the calm old man before him, refusing: "The Pope's Silver Crown can be put down now. Eagle, my foster father, in this era when gods walk among men, in this unprecedentedly peaceful age, I feel the Church doesn't even need to exist."
"You're right, Loranda."
The old Pope smiled and clapped his hands. He wasn't angered by the other's somewhat direct words. He just slightly turned his head, looking at the Myriad Realms Sacrificial Ground that the Holy Mountain Fortress faced. The old man's gaze could pierce the end of the void: "Actually, I also think that 'religion' itself has lost its meaning."
His tone was calm, as if stating a fact: "I agree with you on this point."
"Gods are the embodiment of wishes. People pray for the arrival of might and justice, so even after Lord Xing Zheng departed, a new deity was born—but that was limited to times of pain and darkness. The more peaceful and harmonious the era, the more beautiful and full of hope, the less necessary gods become. One could even say that gods and religion are merely humanity's resistance to its own dissatisfaction and powerlessness in times of suffering—and the weakest form of resistance at that."
"In an era when everyone can eat and dress warmly, realize their own wishes and meaning, there is no need to call upon gods—naturally, as the earthly agents of wishes, the Church should indeed not exist."
"Then..." Hearing this, the Paladin Loranda was momentarily confused. His tone was puzzled: "Then, Your Holiness, why do you still designate me as the next Pope?"
Could it be that he didn't want the reputation of letting the Church's inheritance end on himself? He thought of a rather vulgar possibility but immediately shook his head to dismiss it—that was too childish, not like something the old man would do.
At this moment, Eagle turned his head, gazing at his successor, his foster son, and then said calmly: "But who said that the main body of our 'Church of the Seven Gods' is the faith in the Seven Gods? Loranda, you grew up in the Church, so having this mistaken understanding is normal, but I want to tell you, it's not actually like that."
"—Even the weakest resistance, even the most tearful calls, even the most humble and insignificant wishes—gods will respond to them. Similarly, the Church will respond. 'Religion' can indeed be ended, but the heart for 'goodness,' for 'love,' cannot be ended. And this is our foundation."
Saying this, the old Pope removed the Silver Crown from his head. He held it in his hand, and invisible Holy Light suspended it, releasing brilliant silver radiance. Eagle showed no attachment to it: "The Pope's authority—such great power. But so what? If the Pope has no power, he's merely a puppet manipulated by various nations—but a Church that has lost its faith is not like a Pope who has lost his power, because our core is not worldly interests."
"'The Church of the Seven Gods' indeed has no meaning—but 'The Church of Holy Light,' or rather 'The Assembly of Clergy,' does have meaning."
Raising his head, looking at the thoughtful Loranda, Eagle handed the crown in his hand to the other, and the Paladin instinctively took it. He heard his foster father's calm voice: "Do you think, whether in doing good or helping others, is one person's power greater, or a group's power greater? Is a group of ordinary people's power greater, or a group of Clergy, a group of Transcendents' power greater?"
"Loranda, think carefully. An organization that believes in Holy Light is inherently a benevolent group. Even if the religious element is removed, it won't break it apart—we were born responding to the wishes of all beings, and we are those who hold power. The Seven Gods are merely our leaders. Even if we don't believe in Them, even if They disappear, so what? If the gods are no longer here, does that mean we stop loving our family and friends, stop helping those who should be helped?"
"The Church is the backing of all those who wish to do good and help others. Why should we completely abolish it? We just need to slowly transform the original religion, adapt it to this era without wishes. Remember, don't forget the 'original intention of love.' If you forget this core and instead pursue power, pursue your own desires, you will fall into the same evil as those people and things you despise."
"I... I understand."
Loranda was a genius. He was a Legendary strongman, a Paladin who had walked among men for many years. He could easily understand this... but just as the old Pope said, having grown up in the temple, he needed some time to separate the name of the Seven Gods from the Church.
Holding the crown in his hands, the Paladin was silent for a long time, then let out a long breath: "So that's it, I understand... Yes, that's how it should be. It's not that we are Transcendents who believe in the Seven Gods and Holy Light, so we do good; it's because we want to help others that we naturally gathered together, naturally held Holy Light, naturally created, or rather, responded to the Seven Gods."
The old Pope nodded slightly, his gaze gratified.
Saying this, Loranda, under the gaze of his foster father and mentor, solemnly raised the crown in his hands and placed it on his head—and this simple ceremony signified the transfer of the highest authority of the Church of the Seven Gods and the opening of a new page in history.
But suddenly, both frowned. The paused action interrupted the ceremony.
In the Psychic Terminal, some message was spreading.
Like the call of the deathbird that would eventually arrive, after a long passage of time, it 'would' arrive here.
At this moment.
In the Boundless Heaven, the Divine Domain of the Seven Gods.
[An emergency situation has occurred.]
[What happened? I sense a large amount of panicked emotions appearing.]
[In the direction of the Biros Star River, Chaos disturbances have appeared. Subspace information is nearly cut off. We've lost contact with a quarter of the void civilizations around us.]
[I see the curtain at the dark end... The amount of Chaos is extraordinary.]
[Clearly, they're coming... Tsk, they haven't even arrived yet, and they're already causing such big waves. Fortunately, we were prepared.]
[It's about to begin.]
[Then, should we find Joshua?]
The seven massive wills communicated with each other, but when the last will sent its message, the entire Boundless Heaven fell silent for a moment.
[No... Not now for now.]
[Not yet.]
[He is at a critical period, far from the point where he can come out.]
[And, do you think he doesn't know about this? Can he not sense the fluctuations of Chaos?]
[Don't underestimate that man. Look, the Genesis Maelstrom has shown abnormal mass reactions. The world cycle has slowed again... He's accelerating his experiments.]
[In any case, let's see the situation first. This isn't just a matter of one world or one civilization; it's a major event for the entire Multiverse Star River.]
[Convene the 'Fifth Multiverse Star River Civilization Joint Conference'—facing the Evil Gods and World Devourers, no one can stand aloof.]
Soon, with the fluctuation of divine power, invisible information, through the Magic Net spread across the Multiverse Star River, began to spread to all worlds. The dark fluctuations, the encroachment of Chaos had already descended upon the edge of the Star River. This was a calamity no one could avoid.
—This war, no one can escape. Righteousness cannot save those who do good, and evil cannot save those who do evil.
—The cowardly have nowhere to hide; only the brave can survive.
At this moment, the storm was about to break.
And in the Carlis World, the Steel Serpent Carlis, sensing the endless fluctuations coming from the vicinity of the Mycroft World, and the massive pulse like a heart beating at the center of the entire World Star River, closed its eyes and sighed silently.
"The day you predicted and warned about is approaching... The disaster I once experienced is about to reappear... Joshua, are you truly prepared for the darkness that even the Sage could not stop, the terror that silenced all World Wills, which you have always taken as your hypothetical enemy?"
There was no answer.
Because the one who should have answered had long since departed.
No answer was needed.
Because anyone knew what answer that man would give.
So even the Steel Serpent, the World Will, could only sigh.
"This year marks the fifth year since you left the normal Multiverse Star River and went to the Genesis Maelstrom."
This year marked the fifth year since Joshua van Radcliffe entered the Genesis Maelstrom.
The Time of Arrival was about to arrive.