Chapter 1018 Challenge and Doub (2/2)
”The Creator…”
”…the Maker!”
”Molder of Worlds, the Architect of Deities!”
”Father of Worlds, God of Gods!”
Joshua, however, was not concerned with the praise and those profound names they had made for him. The four-armed God of War simply raised his hand to conjure vague star charts.
”The Ultimate Crisis had wreaked destruction and death, terror and loss. There is no doubt it would lure several Evil Gods here,” he said flatly, stating the reality none would really focus upon. ”War, Disparity, Pestilence, and Famine…there would be another if one was killed, and whether you would call them World Eaters, the Endbringers, or any other name, they would be coming in the near future.”
One could see an exceeding mass of darkness appearing upon the bright star chart. Veins of gloomy rifts were eroding into every corner and splitting apart the grand light.
”Those walking cataclysms that pursue memes and eternity would ignore all differences between life, civilizations, race, or even ideas to equally cast destruction upon all. I don't believe at all that the cosmos could really unite and repel them as a collective force, but I would still warn all of you to plan for the worst…for the war between Order and Chaos has come, its curtains rising.”
There was tightening sensation in the hearts of every being. It was a threat to the instinct, and enmity that reached into their center of being: they felt the misery reaching to them from the darkness of ruined civilizations, along with the cold finality and devastation that the Chaos embodied.
”Become powerful. You don't have to fight for Order or the Multiverse—you only need to fight for yourselves, your own world, your own civilization, your own lives, and the lives of your children.”
”However, I am sanctioning against all wars between civilizations of Order.”
”I don't care about the grudges existing between all of you or dissatisfaction against my decree, but from this day forth to the day the Evil Gods are repelled , I am stopping all senseless fighting—all of you can doubt, curse, even complain reasonably or unreasonably, but I wouldn't care. I would directly suppress every being bent on stirring conflict.”
Quietly, the four-armed God of Steel revealed his demand with neither threat nor arrogance in his voice. Joshua watched the Void before him as if simultaneously watching all civilizations and beings watching the broadcast across the cosmos. ”I know this demand is unreasonable, but the Evil Gods are even more so. By the way, I did just defeat Imperator Amos, so anyone who believes themselves more powerful can challenge me…or point out my mistakes in discourse”
”These are the only options. You could raise opinions beyond that, and I would listen—but I will not change.
***
Silence extended across every civilization across the cosmos who could see and hear the demand.
They were hesitant, frowning as the ultimate arrogance and belittlement reached them from the other side of space.
And yet, they understood that those were merely a mistaken perception, because Joshua was not ignoring them, but essentially challenging every individual and every civilization's champion in the cosmos.
Even so, it did not mean that not everyone had the right to answer the challenge.
***
Still.
Joshua received no response even as a period passed. The warrior therefore could not help but frown, and his gaze was puzzled.
What is going on—where is everybody?
Doubt me, question me.
I am neither the truth nor really a Wise One. All of this is merely my personal understanding and not the real Truth…could there be none who would doubt it? Could my closing browbeating request have been unable to challenge all of you, to stir your rage and dissatisfaction?
He looked bewilderedly at the Void around him as if towards the civilizations who had listened to his speech, his mouth hanging open as if he would continue.
Were they buying it so easily? Where were the doubters? The lost? Regardless of how funny or futile the questions would be, they should have been asked, if there were any! Even if it did not feel right or the simple provocation felt disgustful, it was good to nitpick for real Truth feared no spying. That was what Joshua needed!
Legacies were not some injection into the head, believing blindly in whatever was said—because that would be brainwash! It asked and answered, questioned and explained, was doubted, denied, or verified.
Never merely listen. Try to doubt!
And Joshua believed that there would be those who understood a single Extraordinary power more profoundly than he did.
He was not convinced that he knew everything. Joshua imagined that his own preaching to every individual in the cosmos, was equal to every one's preaching in return towards himself. He had thought that it would be an exchange of clarifications and doubts, answers and verifications… his highbrow declaration to the cosmos would hence progress to a majestic and intense challenge, a long debate and rhetoric, with Truth eventually made clear through the clarification and verification between different theories, becoming food for everyone.
And not an abrupt silence such as this.
It should not have been so.
The stillness lasted. The faint white dust of the radiant Mana Tide belt wafted like mist in the Void, engulfing worlds.
Until Joshua actually felt disappointment, a voice suddenly spoke from the other side of dimensions.
”I am challenging you.”
It was a gruff voice extending from the center of a galaxy, just as a great presence transcended the dimensions and quaked the elements of worlds. One could see a fluctuating shadow materializing from beyond, with bursting surges of power in the company of boldness and elation.
”I am challenging you as well.”
”Your description of ether just now was mistaken—”
”Who do you think you are?”
Another voice followed.
Then another, and another, and another.
”Good.”
Hearing a million challenges and doubts all at once, as well as provocations or denials, the warrior was not angry at all. He watched the Void as well as the entire cosmos, as if levelling his eyes upon all who challenged him, and smiled most earnestly.
”Alright.”
He promised, smiling happily.
Alright.