Foolish play of the gods

Chapter 7: I plan to give them a child · As the duration of the Wall of Holy Light grew shorter and shorter, Chen Chong’s grim face, slick with sweat, began to contort into a snarl. He shouted with raw frustration: · "Two minutes left! Priest, get ready to restore my Mental Energy! If we don't think of something, we’re breaking out the moment the wall falls! · Assassin, get ready to rejoin the squad! I’m going to smash a path through the front and lead the charge; you’re responsible for clearing the trash behind me! · Mage, get ready for Haste!!" · Cao Sansui clenched his hands, about to speak, but Cheng Shi suddenly stood up and asked Nangong with chilling calm: · "Have you learned 'Overload Healing'? I need the Time Walker to cast another area-wide Haste—the massive-scale kind." · The group turned to look at Cheng Shi, wondering if he had actually found a way out. Voices overlapped: · "You have a plan?" · "You..." · Cao Sansui felt a jolt of hope. "I don’t need Overload Healing. Just top off my Mental Energy. I have 'Overload Casting'!" · Overloading meant overdrawing; it was a method of casting that depleted one's future potential to upgrade a current spell, enhancing its effects significantly. · Cheng Shi gave Cao Sansui an appreciative glance, thinking that a rank 1900 player was indeed easy to work with, but he still shook his head. · "It might not be enough. I need a massive range. Nangong, can you do it?" · Nangong gritted her teeth, looked at the army of Terror Demons outside the light screen, and nodded. · If they didn't give it their all now, they’d be dead in moments. There was no room left for holding back. · "Now?" · "Now!" Cheng Shi said decisively. · Overload Healing could overdraw future healing power. To an extent, it functioned like raising the target's Mental Energy cap, making it invaluable in desperate situations. · Nangong gave a resolute nod and stood up. Before everyone’s eyes, she slowly removed her tightly fastened black shirt, revealing the body she had kept hidden. · The moment the shirt fell away, countless jagged, twisted scars—resembling centipedes—burned into everyone’s vision. · They were everywhere. From her neck to her chest to her arms, her pale skin was covered in a horrifying map of trauma. · Xia Wan’s brow furrowed tightly; Cao Sansui’s pupils shrank. · Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow in surprise, finally recognizing her identity. · She was actually a follower of Decay. · "A Blood-Exchange Priest??" Chen Chong blurted out in shock. · Decay was the second deity of the Submergence Destiny Path—the climax of drowning, the final tomb of the universe. · Its Divine Decree Rite was to accelerate decay. To fulfill this, its followers often resorted to self-mutilation. · The divine power of Decay worked on a simple principle: the faster a follower decayed, the more power they received in return. · This was why Priests of Decay were called Blood-Exchange Priests; they traded their own life force for the lives of their teammates. · The more they harmed themselves, the more rapid the recovery for their allies. · Of course, severe injuries could still lead to death. Such was the will of Decay. Balancing suicide with salvation was a topic every Blood-Exchange Priest discussed tirelessly. · Nangong didn't waste time. With a tight scowl and clenched teeth, she pulled a spiked dagger from her waist and sliced a gash across her stomach without hesitation. · Next, she cut between her ribs. · Finally, following the line of her prominent collarbone, she carved a third terrifying line of blood. · With the three offerings complete, she whispered a soft prayer: · "All life shall rot; all things must decay." · A thick, foul-smelling light rose from her wounds, erupting outward. In a heartbeat, it converged into a stream that poured into Cao Sansui’s body. · Cao Sansui felt his body surge with power. His Mental Energy was completely restored; his state was so heightened he felt like letting out a wild roar. · Feeling the vast power within him, some of his confidence returned, though it was still tempered. · He looked at Cheng Shi solemnly and asked, word by word: · "I can 'Overload' to Haste the surrounding area, but there’s a high probability I’ll be useless for the next twelve hours. Cheng Shi, can we hold out that long?" · Cheng Shi smiled faintly. "I don’t want to die, and I won’t." · Frustrated by the chatter, Chen Chong turned back and barked, "Save the posturing for later! Do your damn jobs! Priest, if you have a plan, spit it out!" · Cheng Shi nodded, dropping the suspense. He addressed the group: · "Timing is critical. I need you to listen carefully. · The moment the Wall of Holy Light ends, I need one second to cast. Xia Wan, can you buy me that?" · Xia Wan’s hand tightened on the arrows behind her back. She looked up at the swarm of Terror Demons pressing against the wall and gave a heavy nod. · "I can swallow the Creation Grass Seeds to draw Its gaze. While the power of Proliferation is surging, I can fire five arrows at once. But I can only delay them for one second at most." · This was the most Xia Wan had ever spoken at once, and her tone was grave. · Cheng Shi had already anticipated this was her only option. He nodded in approval. · Chen Chong, still anxious, shouted again, "You’re a Priest! What kind of spell are you casting?" · "Don't worry," Cheng Shi smiled, then raised his voice. "Song Yawen! I know you can hear me. Listen: the moment the shield breaks, I need you back at my side, ready for a Death Burial!" · "Death Burial??" · Everyone froze. Nangong, her breath weak, widened her eyes. · "It's not an opposing path... thank God..." · "He’s a Death Weaver?" · "You knew he was a follower of Death?" · Cheng Shi ignored their confusion and continued: · "I know you have questions, but ignore them. You don't need to worry about the domain of Death; you just need to harvest to your heart's content when the time comes. · Song Yawen, this move determines whether we live or die. I’m not joking." · Chen Chong panicked again. "What if he—" · "He won't. Followers of Death don't die easily. Their patron needs someone to act as an agent of Its grace." · Cheng Shi laughed, trying to lighten the mood, but it didn't work. · Seeing that the group lacked a sense of humor, he shrugged and continued: · "Cao Sansui, the most critical step. Immediately after I cast my spell, you release the area-wide Haste. The target: as much of the ruins as possible, excluding the area inside the shield." · Cao Sansui’s face paled. "What? The entire ruins?" · Cheng Shi nodded firmly. "The entire ruins!" · "You... what’s your rank? 1500?" · Cheng Shi was taken aback, then chuckled and nodded. "1501." · Cao Sansui clearly didn't believe him. How could someone with a rank of 1500 have this kind of presence and composure at the brink of death? He’d seen rank 2000 'experts' wet themselves when facing the end. · "I have to warn you, the potential energy of time balances speed. If the range is that large, our location will become extremely stagnant. We might not even be able to move! · Are you sure? · This is a suicide mission, Cheng Shi!" · Though Cao Sansui suspected Cheng Shi was hiding his true rank, he was genuinely terrified. If it were up to him, he would never dare to pull a stunt like this. · Normally, Time Walkers were considered T0 because they could slow enemies and speed themselves up, creating a temporal advantage. · But if they did the opposite... · Wouldn't they just be sitting ducks? · "I'm sure. You won't want to speed yourself up." · "Fine! The question is, what do you plan to do?" · Cao Sansui’s face was grim, his eyes full of doubt. · "As a link in this plan, we need to know how you intend to lead us through this alive." · Cheng Shi grinned. · "Me? · I plan to give them a child." · [END]