Looking directly at the ancient gods for a whole year

Chapter 2454 The Prophet is Dead (The End)

Which will prevail in the betting market: crystal or amber?

It's almost the same old test of willpower, so how much fun can it possibly have?

While the scope of betting on who Akasha will help has indeed been expanded, it still hasn't completely broken free from the mold.

As the grand finale of the reunion of old friends, it ultimately fell a little short.

But if we add another element—that allows each person to rely on their own abilities and use cheating methods to directly bypass the ordinary gambling dimension—it seems to suddenly become perfect.

Although it seemed like they were at a disadvantage, Fu Qian didn't feel there was anything unfair about it.

Why should I gamble with you?
In many stories, the seemingly all-powerful boss always ends up having a strange contest with the protagonist, placing himself within the rules, which he sees as being under the control of causality.

Furthermore, they lack taste; even if they wanted to play games, they could easily combine the resources at hand to create something more enjoyable.

The clown is clearly doing just that right now.

You can choose first; I'm forced to choose the other side.

But no matter how much effort you put into making your deductions, I can change them to the result I want.

As the Dark Prophet, the mastermind behind the mastermind, Fu Qian believed that the Joker was fully capable of doing this.

The safe zone that Akasha and her two companions perceived could not actually protect them in the slightest, even though they were still fighting over it.

"Then you should continue to avoid them."

After a moment of silence in response to Amber's statement, Akasha bluntly indicated that she could continue to hide.

"That's impossible."

Unfortunately, he was rejected immediately.

The usually mild-mannered amber shook its head with an undeniable firmness, its gaze fixed on the crystal face.

"That's impossible!"

Before Akasha could say anything, Crystal delivered the exact same line.

……

"Then I'll have to choose crystal."

The game at the gambling table was progressing well, but the clown's attention remained focused on Fu Qian.

Knowing that the opponent would cheat, yet still participating without batting an eye, undoubtedly seems like an inhuman thought process.

So much so that at that moment, the Joker's performance could no longer be described as merely satisfactory.

After casually confirming the option, he even put on a serious expression, like a duelist who had been ignited by passion.

"Actually, I'm a little curious. What is your motive for stopping me? Everyone sleeps in darkness, which is boring but at least it's quiet."

"Even the person involved will not experience any pain. In true sleep, the concept of time will be eliminated. No matter how much time has passed, waking up will be instantaneous."

"On the contrary, those of us who have been enlightened and seem to have gained some clarity may be going through a long period of torment."

According to the clown, the best outcome for the demigods seems to be to strive in enlightenment to get closer to the Hill of the Unseen, thereby avoiding complete slumber.

Honestly, if we can't get out, it's hard to tell whether it's a good thing or a bad thing; it feels like we're suffering with all our might.

But if we don't do this, it seems we can empathize with their resentment. Perhaps this is the curse of those in positions of power?

"To be honest, I've been looking for the answer to this question, but unfortunately it's still uncertain. It seems to be related to Ji Feng's mental state."

The clown's curiosity was so earnest that Fu Qian sighed for a moment.

"And no matter how interesting your plans are, or what they mean to Ji Feng, I need to keep this place in the light."

Not only was his speech equally candid, but he also acted like the Joker, not even bothering to glance at the gambling game.

Even now, inside that horrifying gift box, the air is practically boiling over.

"What does this mean for Ji Feng... So we're not prisoners, right?"

Despite their seemingly confrontational stances, the Joker appeared somewhat moved by what he was saying at that moment.

“Delusion, madness, memory, reason… This city represents His will, and we are merely the embodiment of similar concepts?”

As he talked to himself, he seemed to have finally made some things clear.

"This is why there are so many criminals and heroes without any apparent reason, evil and justice... and the repeated return after death."

"That's why those outsiders have that condescending attitude."

With a look of profound enlightenment, it seemed as if a halo might appear above the clown's head at any moment.

"It seems like they've excluded me?"

Fu Qian noticed his choice of words.

“You’re different from them. I can confirm that you don’t belong here… but the name Green Ballard seems to have some connection to this place.”

It wasn't that the wording was imprecise, nor that I thought Fu Qian had extremely high moral standards and could treat the indigenous people equally. At that moment, the clown revealed a doubt in his heart.

"It's strange. Did you manage to escape the mind? You broke through the barrier and gained freedom, yet you keep an eye on this place and come back to play the role of a champion of justice when necessary?" And it has to be said, the character he guessed was quite intriguing.

As for why one feels this way, one can probably guess the reason.

Because he had previously executed the real Ballard with a visceral attack, his information was erased in this world, similar to Ji Feng losing a piece of his memory.

The fact that the clown could sense this meant that he was indeed getting closer and closer to Ji Feng's will—which was good news.

"Why can't I be an evil messenger? To stop others from succeeding like me?"

Although Fu Qian nodded repeatedly in agreement, he still raised objections.

“That makes sense. Theoretically, things should be calming down here as night falls, but you seem to want Him to stay crazy.”

The Joker wholeheartedly agreed with the preface he had created for himself.

"But in any case, with someone like you around, things finally become more interesting—you lost."

Then, changing the subject, he announced the results.

……

"Why……"

It wasn't a hoax; inside the frightening gift box, a scene filled with resentment was unfolding.

In the time that was ignored by Fu Qian and the Joker, the trio's entanglement and struggle were coming to an end.

The one who uttered that heart-wrenching question was Crystal, whose human characteristics were not yet 100%.

Compared to Amber, who was not far away, her condition was far more dire.

The most significant injury was a tear in the chest area, where a spider egg had originally been.

At first glance, it looks a lot like Akasha made her choice in some ruthless way.

Although this result seems inconsistent with what the Joker said, it should be as if he won.

"Akasha still seems to want to help her friend get closer to the essence of this place and maintain some sanity in the eternal night."

"But since Crystal has neither received any inspiration nor gone through the door, it might not be easy to do. With time being tight, it's more likely that Amber will take the lead."

Unperturbed by the clown's words, Fu Qian even offered his interpretation.

"That makes sense, but knowing too little can easily lead to good intentions gone wrong—or bad intentions gone right."

The clown then made an exaggerated expression of regret.

"how come--"

Almost simultaneously, another scream rang out, and amber, not far away, also began to show signs of injury, like a reflection of crystal.

“I told you, I don’t have time to play role-playing games with you… Since you insist, I’ll accept this body.”

Akasha's response was surprisingly cold.

"At this moment, she tends to think of herself as the Silk Queen, freed from the constraints of her identity as Akasha, and thus lost all pity for her friends. Instead, she wants to take this opportunity to control the Crystal as a puppet."

"The trauma of the explosion simply left a lasting mark on Crystal, and because the Silk Queen was among the most deeply enlightened, it helped Crystal confirm her dominant position."

The pre-description was also quick, and he glanced at the clown at the end.

"It makes sense, but isn't the fabrication a bit too far-fetched?"

In the blink of an eye, Amber had proven his point. He could no longer make a sound and even curled up quickly, about to reveal his true form.

"Yes, I left it a little contrived so you would know I was manipulating the outcome."

The clown showed absolutely no embarrassment.

"So you're going to start the countdown?"

There was no displeasure before payment.

“It has already begun…”

The clown reached out and ripped a hole in the "Gray Fall" to reveal a deeper blackness behind it.

"With each passing number, I felt His will more and more strongly. Everything else was an illusion; only the darkness was real. And from beginning to end, I represented His unwavering commitment to this reality—"

boom!
The sound abruptly stopped, and the clown's figure was completely engulfed by golden flames.

"There's an old saying in my hometown: when you go to the gambling table, always remember to wear a helmet."

During the long-accumulated disaster, Fu Qian casually shared a philosophical statement about life.

It's getting closer and closer, isn't it? It represents Grandpa Ji's unwavering commitment to the darkest night, right?
This is what I've been waiting for; I hope it's not too late—it seems so.

[Current mission completed, containment successful for missile 1-093]

The mission notification sounded almost immediately.

Sorry for redefining the morning; I underestimated the intensity of the care. I didn't sleep much last night, so my efficiency was relatively low today.

The longest dungeon so far has finally come to an end; the quest summary will be posted tomorrow.