Chapter 41 Part 2

Only then did Taylor exhale in relief. “The Twin Suns have not both fallen. A new sun and a new moon will eventually rise.”

He closed his eyes and lightly tapped his fist against his chest. “The deity I believe in is everlasting.”

Silvery radiance bloomed from his body once more.

This radiance, identical in origin to the “Silver Moon” outside, unexpectedly resonated with the true Silver Moon’s light upon the greatsword resting on Xia Xifeng’s lap.

Xia Xifeng looked pensive.

He said, “What you believe in is the God of the Silver Moon, not a deity with a specific, defined personality.”

Taylor opened his eyes. “What is there about a god’s personality that deserves respect?”

Xia Xifeng considered this, then nodded firmly. “You’re right. It’s like my respect for the sun.”

He respected the sun that bestowed light and warmth upon all creation.

The Twin Suns, as entities, though… that was a different matter.

Even Leo, a God’s Favored of the Sun, didn’t hold much respect for his deity. His hair had been burned off far too many times.

While Taylor and Xia Xifeng chatted, Qin Lang’s reaping had entered its final stages.

A max-level player farming trash mobs—it was either a one-shot critical hit, or a two-shot if no critical. If it ever took more than three hits, the game’s developers would have their ancestors sent to the heavens by enraged players.

The edges of the “Silver Moon” were now fully rimmed in crimson.

Qin Lang sheathed his twin blades.

Blood dripped from the edges of the “Silver Moon.” The ground rumbled and shook.

Eigg’s face contorted. “You think killing us ends this? The god will personally demonstrate His divine majesty!”

Xia Xifeng calmly handed Eigg a mirror. “Please manage your facial expressions. You look terrible right now. Being tricked by an Evil God, then turning around and praising that Evil God—it’s the behavior of a changgui. It’s unsightly enough on its own. Do you know what a changgui is?”

Xia Xifeng proceeded to explain the concept of a changgui—a ghost enslaved by the very tiger that devoured it, forced to lure more victims for the tiger. The explanation nearly made Eigg smash the mirror.

Taylor turned his head aside, struggling not to laugh.

He only remembered everything at the moment of his death. Eigg only remembered everything at the moment he killed Taylor.

Then the cycle would restart.

So even though countless years had passed within this dream, this was their very first conversation with their memories intact.

Seeing Eigg so thoroughly thwarted brought Taylor immense amusement.

The sight of an arrogant Elf Lord, once so proud, reduced to a dog of the Evil God, was even more amusing.

How fascinating—the chosen “firstborn of the gods,” who once sought to enslave all other races, reduced to such an ugly state.

Though furious, Eigg wasn’t so foolish as to attack Xia Xifeng.

He had remembered everything and was utterly disheartened.

What made it even worse: Taylor, who had also regained all his memories, whose torment within this dream cycle was far worse than his own, whose very descendants were all cursed—why hadn’t Taylor been crushed by despair? How could he still smile?

Eigg recalled standing atop the high tower, executing the overreaching ants of the Resistance.

Those people weren’t even combat professionals. They simply clutched sharpened wooden sticks and charged recklessly at fully armed Elven warriors.

He had deliberately spared the leader, hanging him from a wooden frame, forcing him to watch as his comrades were executed one by one.

That person had worn this exact same expression.

It was precisely this expression that had captivated his sister, causing her to sever all ties with him.

Many within the Elven First Empire had been drawn in by such expressions. Though Elves themselves, they joined the Resistance, seeking to overthrow the Eternal King and establish a new Elven Empire.

The Blood Moon finally descended personally. Xia Xifeng couldn’t sit still any longer. He needed to go down and buff Qin Lang.

As he prepared to vault out the window, Eigg asked, “The current Elven Empire… is it the one established after the Eternal King was slain?”

Xia Xifeng looked back. “Yes. After that, the Elven Empire has only seen changes in the throne, never a change in the ruling power.”

Eigg’s voice was hollow. “Have they fallen to the same crude level as the slaves they once ruled?”

Xia Xifeng replied, “Your slaves back then weren’t crude at all. The one I saw being crude was that Elf in the city wildly whipping people. The Elves are still arrogant. To be honest, it’s not very likeable. But these Elves are truly arrogant—even standing against gods on the battlefield.”

Players hated doing quests involving Elves. These Elves simply couldn’t learn to speak politely; their chins were always lifted so high it drove players insane, prompting daily complaints asking why quest NPCs couldn’t simply be attacked.

But players loved going on missions with Elves. When danger loomed, these Elves were invariably the first ones to charge.

When the Evil Gods sought to devour the world and the World Tree fell, every Elf guarding that World Tree, down to the last man, swore an oath of vengeance. Even the elderly and children took up arms.

They were the first “mortals” to storm the Divine Domain of the Evil Gods.

“The current Elven Empire is completely different from the Elven First Empire, which claimed to be the firstborn of the gods.” Xia Xifeng jumped down from the window. “They take pride in having slain the Eternal Elf King, in having founded their nation by the hands of mortals.”

Xia Xifeng’s voice drifted away. Eigg remained seated at the small round table, unmoving as a stone statue for a very long time.

Taylor sat quietly for a moment, confirming that this time, he was truly free from the Evil God’s influence and could act independently.

Finally, he stood up.

“I’m going to fight. Do as you please.”

He left with a light, almost dismissive sentence and vaulted out the window as well.

Eigg watched Taylor’s retreating form, his expression still wooden.

“Qin Lang!” Xia Xifeng launched himself at Qin Lang.

Qin Lang swiftly sidestepped.

But Xia Xifeng had predicted Qin Lang’s dodge trajectory, altering his course mid-pounce. He crashed into Qin Lang with a triumphant laugh. “Thought you could dodge? As if!”

Qin Lang rolled his eyes. “Get off me.”

After teasing Qin Lang, Xia Xifeng poured out all the intel he’d gathered.

Qin Lang listened with utter boredom, just killing time while waiting for the boss’s entrance animation to finally finish.

This boss’s entrance animation was ridiculously long, perfectly worthy of one of the most infamous “Shit Bosses” in Fantasy Realms.

“Can you solo this Blood Moon Projection?” Xia Xifeng asked worriedly, once he’d finished the intel dump.

Qin Lang replied, “Yes. It’s not the actual body.”

Xia Xifeng nodded vigorously. “Exactly! The Outer Gods and the gods are still locked in battle in the Divine Domain. The Blood Moon doesn’t have time to personally descend. A mere projection? They’re all walking ATMs for us! Go for it, Qin Pikachu!”

Qin Lang retaliated by rapping Xia Xifeng’s forehead with the pommel of his sword.

Clutching his forehead, Xia Xifeng yelped, “Qin Dog! You hit too hard!”

“You started it,” Qin Lang shot back, already rechecking his status. His skills were all off cooldown.

The town’s structures began to melt and writhe like living flesh, merging with the blood dripping from the Blood Moon in the sky to form a colossal mountain of pulsating gore.

The more powerful an Outer God’s power became, the more their “appearance” deviated from conventional aesthetics, twisting into abominable, nauseating forms.

This was the outward manifestation of an Outer God twisting the very rules of reality.

The people still standing nearby all trembled involuntarily in primal terror. Even Taylor, who had just arrived, found himself averting his gaze.

For Qin Lang and Xia Xifeng, it was merely a visual assault of “too ugly, too disgusting.”

“Let’s go.” Still rubbing his forehead, Xia Xifeng said to Qin Lang, “We go together. Don’t worry. I’m an absolute pro at dodging the Blood Moon’s mechanics.”

Qin Lang replied flatly, “Never doubted you.”

Every single time Qin Lang had been subjected to the Blood Moon’s grotesqueries, Xia Xifeng had been right there, dodging mechanics.

The Blood Moon dropped a specific rare material that was soul-bound, obtainable only by those partied together for the kill. Qin Lang had been forced, gritting his teeth, to farm this shit boss over a hundred times—and the culprit was Xia Xifeng.

“Of course you know I’m awesome.” Xia Xifeng beamed.

Gripping his spellcasting staff, capable of unleashing flash spells, Xia Xifeng watched his familiar ATM finish materializing, practically vibrating with eagerness.

As a moon that shone in the night, the Blood Moon ironically feared light.

The Blood Moon’s indiscriminate tentacle attacks? A simple Light spell turned the tentacles to ash on contact.

Honestly, a Light Cleric made the fight much easier. Whenever Xia Xifeng dragged Qin Lang to farm the Blood Moon, he usually switched to his Light Cleric account.

Now, though he lacked a Cleric’s skills, “reality” had removed the restrictions on item usage, and he had an infinite inventory. With a backpack full of Holy Light Scrolls, what was the difference between him and a Light Cleric?

None! With enough wealth, he was even stronger!

Xia Xifeng distributed various magic scrolls of Holy Light, Flash, and Illumination to the Resistance fighters, explaining the key strategies for defeating the Blood Moon.

Qin Lang, upon discovering they were facing the Blood Moon—an Outer God boss—had immediately written a guide. Xia Xifeng had made many copies.

“Qin Lang will hold the boss’s aggro tightly. Our job is to clear the tentacles on the ground and use light to gradually erode the Blood Moon’s physical form.” Xia Xifeng rallied, “Brothers and sisters! Tormented through countless cycles by this disgusting thing—finally a chance for payback! Are you pumped?!”

The Resistance fighters looked utterly baffled.

Taylor rubbed his eyes, forcing himself to look directly at the deity. “They haven’t regained their memories. They have no idea what you’re talking about. However…”

He turned around, addressing his comrades and descendants. “Prepare for battle!”

The moment Taylor gave the order, the bewildered fighters immediately suppressed all extraneous emotions and tightened their grips on their weapons.

Taylor performed a Holy Knight’s salute toward Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang. “Even facing an Evil God’s mortal vessel, we will never retreat.”

Xia Xifeng elbowed Qin Lang, signaling him to return the salute with the gesture of a Pioneer Knight.

“Allow us to reintroduce ourselves,” Xia Xifeng declared. “Xia Xifeng. Qin Lang. Pioneer Knights of Green Sand City. And Lords of the Hope City, which has just recently signed a friendly trade agreement with Blackstone Town.”

Taylor didn’t ask how the Hope City could sign an agreement with Blackstone Town if Blackstone Town was already destroyed.

He simply smiled—the same carefree smile that seemed impervious to any weight, any pressure—and declared to Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang: “Taylor, Lord of Blackstone Town, will give our allies our full support.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Xia Xifeng extended the greatsword toward Taylor. “Try it. See if you can take it up.”

Though the Silver Moon power within Taylor didn’t originate from the true Silver Moon, Xia Xifeng had an impulse. He just wanted to try it.

Taylor set down his own greatsword and accepted the one Xia Xifeng offered.

The familiar heft brought a nostalgic glint to his eyes. “It broke during my fight with Eigg. My beloved later reforged it. It’s been a long time, old friend.”

The Silver Moon’s radiance upon the greatsword pulsed.

At first, the light on the blade remained separate from Taylor’s own silvery aura, simply flickering at the same frequency.

But as Taylor gently stroked the blade’s surface, the moonlight on the sword seemed to extend like threads of silk, winding around his fingers.

Taylor froze.

In that hazy instant, he thought he saw a figure, its features obscured entirely by a corona of silvery-white light.

Though he could not make out a face, he could feel it—the figure was smiling at him.

Silver light erupted around Taylor, blazing so intensely that Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang, already walking away, couldn’t help but glance back.

The silver light was incredibly bright.

But it was not blinding.

Because this was moonlight.

[True Moon? False Moon?]

[My faith springs from my own heart, unshakable.]