Chapter 27: Farewell
He refused bluntly: "If I wanted to become a god, I would do it myself. But right now, I think there's something more important for you than answering my questions."
Becoming a god—a tempting proposition.
If it were an ordinary person, they might have actually asked.
But for Joshua, this wasn't something of value.
What he pursued wasn't standing above all living beings, wasn't protecting a region or a race, watching them gradually grow into a flourishing civilization.
What a warrior pursued was only a battle that could excite him and make him find the value of his own existence.
His future was still long, his time still plentiful. He would challenge step by step—from Ultimate, to Legendary, then fight against the Abyss, fight against Chaos. He would improve bit by bit, grow bit by bit, become stronger bit by bit.
He didn't need others to tell him how to advance. He didn't need others to carve out a path already explored for him. He firmly believed that he would eventually overcome everything and reach the end of the world. Only then would he think about how to challenge the gods in the sky. Only then would he think about how to become a god.
To think for himself, to challenge for himself, to explore his own path—not take shortcuts others had walked before.
This was the mindset of the strong. Difficulties and obstacles were merely seasoning on the journey. Without them, life would be far too boring. Just like in Joshua's previous life, when no one dared to challenge him as the world's strongest martial artist, the warrior knew that the rest of his life would be unbearably dull—until he grew old, and later generations wanted to step over him to rise.
"You... truly don't want to know?"
Ougner was clearly very surprised. He tried: "Although compared to the inheritances of the Sage and the Father of Nature, my method has some flaws, it's still a kind of experience. You really don't want it?"
He thought the warrior might have obtained some information about becoming a god from the inheritances of the Father of Nature or the Sage, and thus didn't care about such matters. But Joshua didn't want to dwell on this topic. Frowning, he looked at the two-headed giant's gradually fading body and shook his head. "Compared to that, Ougner, you are a kind and wise god. You shouldn't just disappear like this in a human underground laboratory. Perhaps you already feel satisfied, but I think you can depart with even more joy."
"Take my hand."
Saying this, Joshua extended his hand without hesitation.
This hand was practically insignificant compared to the two-headed giant's massive body, but for some reason, Ougner silently reached out his own palm and gently 'held' the warrior's hand.
An inexplicable force transmitted. The two-headed giant's fading, massive body began to solidify again.
"You lent me your divinity..."
Speaking in a strange tone, Ougner murmured softly: "You'll be weakened for about half a month before your divinity recovers. This is just to let me exist for a few more minutes... You don't even want to know the method of becoming a god, so why..."
Even a god would be puzzled by this. But the warrior shook his head expressionlessly, released his hand, and silently signaled for the other to follow.
The warrior left the second underground research lab. The Erebus Box was completely destroyed, and those mages' safety was guaranteed. Joshua thought letting these accident-causing fellows lie around a bit longer as punishment was a good choice. The two-headed giant followed behind him, his body passing through walls and stairs like a phantom, following the warrior step by step across the Royal Mage Association.
They walked through the underground corridors, ascending layer by layer, and Ougner gradually understood Joshua's intention.
He took a deep look at the warrior's back.
On the surface, near Truth Avenue.
"What's wrong, Lady?!"
Standing by the roadside, the High Sister's body trembled slightly. Her platinum-gold hair swayed like waves, and the surrounding church knights immediately noticed this. They quickly went on alert and asked with concern.
Not long ago, the black mist sea around the Royal Mage Association had gradually dissipated and thinned, now leaving only a layer of hazy white mist. This change immediately reassured the nearby city guards and other mages. But when several people who tried to test it fainted again at the edge of the mist, everyone became more vigilant. Compared to before, this white mist only had reduced aggressiveness and corrosiveness—it was still very dangerous.
Nostradamus also noticed that the temporal-spatial distortion blocking his detection spells still existed, and it could be determined that some entity was actively forming it. But since the situation was improving, and Saya repeatedly assured that Joshua was still alive and very calm, the old mage didn't try to decipher this phenomenon. Instead, he conserved his strength, waiting for the right moment to act.
His Majesty the Emperor, in the Morlai Palace, was naturally still observing. The black mist incident had appeared in the Imperial Capital. Although it caused no casualties, it had led to the collapse and corrosion of many buildings. He naturally had to pay close attention.
Steadying herself, the High Sister grasped the cross-shaped amulet on her chest. She shook her head slightly, signaling to the surrounding knights that she was fine. Since the blindfold covered her eyes, they couldn't see her expression. The church knights trusted this and didn't continue asking, instead resuming their vigilance.
But Saya's heart was filled with shock.
She saw it. The deep blue light orb representing Joshua was slowly rising from underground, exiting through the Royal Mage Association's passage. Behind him followed a chaotic light ring—illusory, uncertain whether it existed or not.
"Did he resolve this?"
Given the earlier changes in the external black mist, the High Sister thought this was very likely. But she couldn't determine whether the divine being following Joshua was benevolent or malevolent, or even whether it existed at all. Her vision, though vast, was also blurry. In the past, before training, she had made many misjudgments. This time might be another mistake.
After warning the surrounding knights to be on alert and instructing them to 'wait for an opportunity to leave and protect yourselves,' Saya quickly walked toward Nostradamus. Robzek was in decent condition but still unconscious. This matter had to be reported to the old mage, the strongest person present.
Time passed.
A figure appeared at the entrance of the Royal Mage Association.
Judging by the build, it was clearly Joshua. His steps were steady and rhythmic. He looked unharmed, in good condition—neither exploring the mist sea nor the Erebus Box had caused him any damage.
After speaking with Saya, Nostradamus nodded slightly. Although the High Sister's discovery warranted caution, he trusted Joshua's ability. And the facts proved this. Though the thin mist still had the power to induce sleep, it had stopped spreading, lost its corrosiveness, and was even slowly shrinking. This matter was now mostly resolved, all credit to the warrior.
But then, the old mage's head froze mid-nod. His eyes widened as if he had seen something unbelievable.
The surrounding city guards and church knights also erupted in commotion. They gasped sharply, their hands trembling. Beside them, Saya, who had mentally prepared herself, let out a sigh: "Gods..."
Behind Joshua, a massive creature over ten meters tall appeared in everyone's view. It passed through various formations and rocks like a phantom, naturally standing at the association's entrance.
Because of its presence, the white mist dissipated like a dream. The two-headed giant's enormous, pressure-filled body was now clearly visible to all.
Following Joshua, Ougner walked out of the Royal Mage Association's main gate.
He looked down at the warrior, who silently stepped aside to let him go first.
"Human..."
With a deep sigh, the two-headed giant's dark-gold eyes were filled with emotion. He spoke softly: "Human, may I know your name?"
A god, taking the initiative to ask for a mortal's name.
"Joshua van Radcliffe."
The warrior spoke his name. Facing the giant's fierce-looking face, he showed no tension, no fear. Instead, he calmly turned his head to look at the Imperial Capital's night streets: "Your time is running out."
"You're right."
Nodding slightly, he ignored the astonished gazes of the surrounding mages, city guards, church knights, and all other stunned experts. He ignored the rising cries and sounds of preparation for battle. The two-headed giant stepped step by step to the middle of the avenue. Ougner looked up at the night sky. Mycroft World's bright twin moons cast silver light, draping the night-time Imperial Capital in a thin veil.
"This world is so beautiful..."
The God of Despair and Fortune gazed at the thousand-year-later sky, at the familiar yet unfamiliar stars, at the eternal heavens and drifting clouds, and let out a heartfelt sigh: "It was for such a beautiful world that I was willing to sacrifice my immortal life. This land that nurtured my race..."
Slowly lowering his head, the two-headed giant bent slightly. He reached out, touching the rock street softened by the black mist's corrosion. Ougner's gaze seemed to pierce through rock, through the void, seeing the distant Tartarus Plateau, seeing the ancient ruins beneath the Orc King's Court.
There was Ougner's homeland, the land that nurtured his people. A thousand years had passed. Ougner had perished. Even the second race to live there—the centaurs—and the third—the orcs—had successively gone extinct. But that was enough.
Ougner's god had reappeared in the world. He had seen the world for which he had sacrificed his immortal life. He had seen this sky, this earth, and the new, thriving civilization.
Though compared to his era, the current civilization had regressed, it had embarked on a completely new path. He couldn't judge, didn't need to judge, and didn't want to judge this.
Truly, satisfied.
The obsession was gone.
"Thank you, Joshua."
The two-headed giant's form was rapidly disappearing. His body began to distort abnormally like a phantom, but he didn't care. He turned his head to look at the warrior and said calmly: "I almost forgot—I could still take one more look at this world."
Streams of golden light particles scattered from Ougner's body. In the Royal Mage Association's underground, the seven sleeping mages awoke simultaneously. Near Truth Avenue, the sleeping Robzek and Muir also opened their eyes immediately. They looked at the night-time Imperial Capital streets with confused expressions, as if unsure why they were back here.
"No need to thank me. If you hadn't answered my questions, you could have gone to see it yourself."
Looking at the nearly vanished two-headed giant, Joshua shrugged indifferently: "You satisfied my curiosity, so naturally I should satisfy your wish."
"Won't you even accept this small help?"
With most of his body already turned to nothingness, Ougner shook his head with a smile: "Such a stubborn and confident warrior. In our era, you might have become a god and fought alongside us."
Saying this, the two-headed giant raised his head—now only a single head remained—and looked at the sky.
"Twinkling starlight... so it was you..."
He murmured softly in surprise: "So it was you, you..."
Before he could finish, Ougner's head also completely vanished, turning into scattered light particles like mist.
And in the distant sky.
Seven bright stars shone, as if bidding farewell.