Chapter 823 Civilization’s at One’s Palm (1/2)
When Joshua was ready to depart, faint divine power rippled, and a white, obscure mist suddenly appeared amidst the Void around the Silver Planet. Silently, specks of divine power gathered, a thin figure appearing within.
In the next second, the silhouette stepped out of the mist before Joshua. Wearing a veil and holding a skull, the most mysterious of the Seven Gods: The God of Life walked bare-footed, appearing before the warrior's true form.
The God of Life's white, long hair reached down to her ankles, flowing as if snow despite it being windless around them. With the deity's stark-white skin and clothes, it appeared to have stepped out of a realm without color, made distinct only by a white base and black lines.
Joshua could not make out the God of Life's appearance because of the veil, and certainly could not discern their gender as the divine being stayed motionless… but it was an utter frivolity for the gods.
”God of Life…”
Even so, the warrior was not surprised by the god's appearance. After all, the world of Mycroft was on the brink of civil strife due to an Evil God—being the guardians of civilization, it would be natural for the Seven Gods to dispatch one of their own
Still, just as he was about to ask why the God of Life would appear before him, he realized that he never knew the God of Life's 'other name'.
Apart from their divine name, the Seven Gods had other names for convenient addressing: The God of Might and Justice's was Sinzin, while the God of Love and Death was Yolanda. In fact, apart from formal rituals, devotees of the Seven Gods usually invoked their alternative names when praying—apart from the convenience, the special aspect of their divinity would not be affected.
The God of Life was rather different. While the God of Life was known as the 'Grand Source', it was the long form of their divine title the 'Grand Source of Life' and not their alternative name.
Moreover, the God of Life was also the single deity that held a single divine title instead of two conflicting ones.
”Joshua van Radcliffe.”
A hollow voice rang like wind chimes. The God of Life's clone stood before the Silver Planet, lifting their eyes upon the elliptic plane of the silver star. ”You intend to head to the Sartreans' world, to seek the true cause of civil strife and hence pacify it?”
The God of Life's voice was flat, soft and emotionless, uttering questions as if it were statements while the deity itself lifted its snow-white neck. ”Do you plan to help them?”
”Certainly. Aiding otherworld beings in the state of civil strife but were yet to self-annihilate is a good opportunity for collecting information about the Evil God.”
Joshua did not deny his intent, answering the God of Life simple and straightforwardly as he stood before it. ”I believe that an Evil God is growing in the Bottom of the Abyss, which is why before I face it, I must gather information about the essence of its power, or at least learn its name. It's a fine chance, and I could perhaps witness the moment that the Evil God's power moves.”
The God of Life nodded as if in agreement to Joshua's answer, and yet the divine being's words that followed was of utter doubt.
”If that's so, do you mean that you would rather pacific the struggles of another civilization instead of returning peace to the world of Mycroft?”
There was neither accusation nor emphasis in the deity's voice, but a mere flat utterance of reality. ”You intend to help outsiders, and stand idly by as your own world falls into conflict?”
***
It was a question that reflected the heart. If it were any ordinary person, they would naturally be thinking about how they should be stepping down from the pedestal that the God of Life had unwittingly placed them upon and make clear their stance instead of being seen as neglecting Mycroft.
The question, however, was meaningless for Joshua.
”Well, that's more or less it.”
Several spots on the surface of the Silver Planet flashed in 'agreement' as the warrior continued. ”In fact, that's reality: I would rather aid another civilization than simply interfere with Mycroft civilization, and affect the flow of civilization.”
Then, a rather curious tone surfaced in Joshua's words as he spoke to the God of Life. ”In the end, it is the world and civilization I belong to. I hope that they could handle it by themselves and weather through this calamity… and not break like these weaklings.”
At those words, Joshua turned toward Zelma, who had at once fainted when a real god appeared. He then turned again toward the nearby fortress to stare at the Sartreans within, speaking quietly, ”Look at them. Look at those weaklings.”
”Their individuals, military, even champions are helpless in the face of civil unrest and collapse of society. That is why those weak ones could only beg myself and others to become a Deus Ex Machina for their civilization and make the issue disappear.”