Chapter 892 — Face to Face

"It matters somewhat," Amon replied. "Because I can sense a peculiar aura upon you... It repels and oppresses me, makes me instinctively want to keep my distance from you—in fact, were it not for these bonds, I would have chosen to leave this place the very first time you came here..."

Gao Yang let not a single word slip past. As he listened to Amon's reply, he was also turning matters over in his own mind:

This "God of Nature" could sense some peculiar aura from him—this "satellite spirit"—and felt an instinctive repulsion. That was likely because the legacy left by the "Godslayer Fleet" itself carried a special suppressing effect against deities, and this effect extended along an invisible connection to him. Yet apart from sensing this aura, Amon seemed unable to accurately identify the connection between him and the satellite...

Of course, all of this rested on the premise that this God of Nature was not lying or putting on an act. Out of caution, Gao Yang decided that no matter what attitude or words the other party displayed, he would believe only half of it.

On that premise, he would guard his own secrets well, and unless absolutely necessary, reveal not a single shred of anything to this God of Nature who had feigned death for three thousand years!

"I once possessed a fragment from the starry sky," Gao Xi said slowly, after weighing his words—offering truths that were entirely accurate yet had nothing whatsoever to do with "himself." "That fragment affected me and gave me a few peculiar traits. I imagine you've already guessed—that fragment was produced when you struck the space station back then. I don't know whether you can accept this account—that merely by touching it, I could learn a great deal of knowledge, knowledge beyond human comprehension..."

"Ah... that is not hard to imagine," Amon's voice reached Gao Yang's mind. "Those legacies... they do possess such power. They record their own history and can brand information into the minds of you mortals. The so-called 'Eternal Slate' functions in precisely this way. Only, mortals who can successfully withstand this 'branding inheritance' are exceedingly rare—and one who has been changed as profoundly as you... even I am seeing this for the first time."

"That is not a very perfect answer. I am sure you must still be concealing a great many details—but it is enough."

"Then let us return to where we began," Gao Shao said. "The God of Nature is dead, and all that lies here is Amon—what does that mean?"

Amon gazed quietly at Gao Yang: "Before I answer, I must ask you one more thing—are you truly ready?"

"Ready for what?" Gao Qi furrowed his brow. "Do all gods share your fondness for such riddles?"

"This is no riddle, but a protection for your fragile minds," Amon said mildly. "Since you stand here, I take it you must already have a most basic understanding of certain secrets. Then you should also know... where matters concerning the gods are involved, the more you touch them, the further you drift from humanity; the more you understand, the closer you draw to the divine..."

"For some questions, the answer is more than just an answer—the answer itself is a trial and a shock.

"So before you ask any question, before you seek out any secret, you must be sure: are you truly ready? Ready... to draw ever closer to the gods."

Gao Yang frowned deeply. He considered Amorn's words with great seriousness, and after weighing them, said slowly, "I think we've already ventured deep enough into this territory. At least I myself am ready to talk with you."

"In that case, very well," and perhaps it was only his imagination, but Amorn's tone seemed to carry a hint of amusement. "The answer is simple. I destroyed my own divine throne. It required some risk, but judging by the results, it was all worthwhile. The mortals who once followed the Way of Nature went through a period of chaos—perhaps despair as well—but they came through it and accepted the fact that their god had fallen. The God of Nature was dead, the faithful grieved deeply, and then they divided up the Church's legacy. I was glad to see things turn out that way.

"They did not try to shape a new god after their grief... and once the majority of the faithful had mastered the power of nature through long, arduous study and practice, the odds of a new god being born had fallen to their lowest. All of this matched my original calculations.

"I have said my piece."

Gao Yang listened to every word Amorn spoke, and astonishment had already risen to his face. He could not help drawing a breath. "You mean you rammed the space station precisely in order to destroy your divine throne? To manufacture for your followers the established fact of a 'god's fall'?"

"Manufacturing the established fact of a 'god's fall' was only one reason. On the other hand, I also had to make myself 'die' once—only that way could the transmission of divine power be severed."

"Sever the transmission of divine power?" Gao Shao seized on the key phrase at once. "Are you saying the transmission of divine power is not under the god's own control!?"

"Exactly so," Amorn said, the amusement in its tone now more evident than before. "It seems you truly have learned a great deal in this area. That makes our exchange much smoother—there are many things I needn't explain to you separately."

"But I have a question," Gao Yang could not help saying. "Why did you do this? Destroying your divine throne, faking your death, even being trapped here for three thousand years... Why would a god take the initiative to do all this?"

Amorn fell silent, and only after a full half minute of quiet did its voice sound again in Gao Yang's mind:

"...To break the cycle."