Chapter 44: “Lies”

No unnecessary words.

As soon as these two words fell, that “frontline” came alive.

Everyone.

Whether mortal or demigod.

At this moment, they could all clearly sense a very abstract, yet undeniably real “state of war”.

Between the God of War, Herafamas, and the Procreation Demon God, Xiunis.

Unilaterally, and forcibly established.

This meant—

From this moment on, unless either the God of War or the Procreation Demon God completely falls,

The “state of war” cannot be ended.

This was the God of War, using his own authority, decreeing a god’s inevitable demise.

Lu Ming raised an eyebrow, immediately sat back in his chair, and casually grabbed a tea snack to eat.

An attitude of gleefully watching chaos unfold.

Afterward, he looked to Justice Archbishop Sack.

“Justice Archbishop, if the God of War does anything too extreme in a moment, please have the God of Justice descend and preside over fairness.”

Suddenly called out, Sack froze for a second, then suppressed the heavy look on his face and nodded.

“I’ve already contacted my lord, Your Holiness Sislia, please rest assured.”

“Reliable…” Lu Ming breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Although, if things really went wrong, he could always return to the Divine Realm, or escape to the Parallel Blue Star.

But to be safe, it was best to have more layers of protection.

Just as the God of War called out Xiunis’s name,

The newly renamed Procreation Demon God made a quick escape, wasting not a single moment.

The God of War withdrew his gaze.

In the blink of an eye, his figure descended before Lu Ming.

The blood-colored chains suspended in the sky rattled, the crisp clash of metal breaking the stifling atmosphere.

Those chains, saturated with a dense aura of blood, began to spread out across the entire Violet Empire.

His gaze rested coldly on Lu Ming.

“Where is the Goddess of Fertility? Tell me, and you may be spared.”

“When the Dawn Goddess returns, let her come herself to hold me accountable.”

That emotionless, icy voice sounded as if it had already sentenced Lu Ming to death.

Sack’s pupils trembled as he looked at the War Chains extending toward the Violet Empire.

“Bastard, what are you trying to do, meddle in the human world, rule over a great empire…”

He cursed the God of War under his breath.

Then hurriedly prepared to contact his lord, the God of Justice.

As all the citizens held their breath,

The “Sislia” Lu Ming was disguised as took a step forward.

That step, as if treading upon the rhythm of the world, resonated in perfect harmony with the Authority of Lies.

The terrifying oppressive force emanating from the God of War rippled away in gentle waves.

“Herafamas.”

He spoke, his voice no longer disguised, but his own—cold and calm.

Yet it rang clearly in every living being’s mind, even drowning out the roar of war.

In the shadows, Sislia, fists clenched and her face twisted in gloomy anger, heard these words.

The expression on her face abruptly vanished, replaced by shock as she stood up, and—was that a hint of delight?

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Your Highness must have been worried about me, that’s why you disguised yourself as my avatar, it must be so!”

Sislia’s heart filled with warmth, longing to leave this otherworldly space right now,

To stand with Lu Ming and face the God of War together.

“Zorg, let me out!”

***

In the distance, Zorg, sprawled lazily in all directions, sighed and propped his head up with one hand.

“Sorry, Miss Sislia, I cannot comply with your unreasonable request. This was the command from His Lordship.”

Ilena and Naya hurried over as well, each grabbing one of Sislia’s soft arms.

“His Lordship, please don’t be rash!”

“I am not being rash, let go of me.” Sislia said in a low voice.

Seeing it had no effect,

Naya’s big round eyes narrowed, a mischievous glint flashing in them.

She leaned in close to Sislia’s ear, her hand gently brushing through her hair.

A soft breath brushed against Sislia’s earlobe.

Imitating a certain scoundrel from memory, her tone became somewhat mocking and provocative, even tinged with teasing.

“His Lordship, at a time like this—”

“Surely you don’t want His Highness to say you’re a disobedient bad girl, do you?”

“Don’t make things difficult for us. You’re a good child, aren’t you?”

***

Sislia’s body froze on the spot for a moment.

Outside.

For the first time, a nearly imperceptible fluctuation appeared in the indifferent gaze of the God of War.

Because He noticed that the existence before Him was undergoing a change in the very essence of life.

That was—an essence unique to gods.

Lu Ming’s form began to blur and twist, becoming little more than an unreal shadow.

His voice rang out like a decree, echoing at the intersection of reality and law.

“You claim the Goddess of Fertility is an evil god.”

“You claim She is a thief of faith.”

“Then let it be I, ‘Yumir’—”

“The source of all 【Lies】 in this world, the weaver of myriad illusions, the one who defines reality and fantasy—who tells you this in person.”

***

Lu Ming’s body began to emit an endless green-gold light.

This light was not dazzling, yet seemed able to penetrate the essence of all things, toying with deception at will.

Above the sky.

A colossal curtain woven from countless realities and illusions slowly unfurled.

Upon that curtain appeared all the lies spoken by mankind.

This was the Authority of Lies made manifest.

And at this very moment.

All the lies being told upon the continent—

Whether white lies, malicious deceit…

A sliver of their energy was drawn out, converging above the city of Violet, as if in celebration of their lord’s birth.

“She, the goddess of fertility and life, is the first and most honored Subordinate God of my Eternal Pantheon.”

“To insult Her is to make an enemy of me, and of the ‘truth’ of this world.”

Lu Ming’s voice was as if it did not exist in this world. A sliver of their energy was drawn out, converging above the city of Violet, as if in celebration of their lord’s birth.

“She, the goddess of fertility and life, is the first and most honored Subordinate God of my Eternal Pantheon.”

“To insult Her is to make an enemy of me, and of the ‘truth’ of this world.”

Lu Ming’s voice was as if it did not exist in this world.

At this moment, the ascension began.

Lu Ming was not beseeching for a higher rank, but proclaiming an established fact.

The very rules of the continent applauded.

Welcoming the birth of a new god who wielded Authority.

The God of War looked at the illusory figure before Him.

His gaze grew deeper, a blaze of battle kindling within his heart.

“The God of Lies, in the end, is just a clown skilled at trickery.”

“You want to shelter the Goddess of Fertility? To wage war against me will be the greatest mistake of your life.”

The God of War stretched out His arm, and a deep red ancient spear appeared in His hand out of thin air.

That spear radiated a destructive aura, as if it were the very origin of calamity.

Its presence was extremely ominous.

“Herafamas, making bold threats in the heavens is hardly a wise move.”

“God of War, perhaps you should change your name to Jiahaofamas.”

At these words, the scene before the God of War shifted abruptly.

He was astonished to discover that he truly was floating in the air at this moment.

With his back to the God of Lies, and the citizens below gripped by fear.

The cool caress of the wind, the thin air of the sky—all so real.

Thus.

He turned and rushed down at full speed.

But in an instant,

He felt as if he crashed through something, and was violently slammed against some kind of surface.

Before he could investigate further,

The scene shifted once again.

He had crashed through the Platform floor, landing face-first.

Smashed right into the ground.

Herafamas’s expression shifted subtly, anger surging up in his heart.

***

With a flicker, He returned to the Platform above.

Herafamas opened His mouth slightly.

“Announc—…”

Before the words left His mouth.

A presence vast and unfathomable descended.

Accompanied by the sound of tides, and a purifying azure radiance.

In the vault of heaven, the blood-colored War Chains slowly unraveled.

“Herafamas, why go so far? The wrath of gods must not engulf mortals.”

“You, withdraw.”