Shepherd Tantra

Chapter 1295 Autolys's Plea
As the Paradise Lost magic circle behind Aiwass gradually faded, the star-like radiance also went out.

At this moment, the Parthians who had been sealed away by Aiwass's preservation spell had had their preservation spells broken due to the aftershocks of the collision with Paradise Lost.

Although they didn't know that the giant was Aiwass, they could still feel an overwhelming sense of holiness emanating from him. And the stronger they were, the more suffocating the oppressive feeling they could feel.

No matter who they were—whether they were helpless slaves, scholars in robes, soldiers in armor, or even the wealthy and powerful of the High Rings—they all knelt before Aiwas.

In Parthia, putting aside everything else... at least everyone possesses the skill of discerning the strong from the weak. After all, if they didn't even have this kind of discernment, they simply couldn't have survived in a slave-owning state where the ruler held absolute power.

They could clearly sense that the deer-headed giant harbored no hostility towards them.

This massive preservation technique that protected the entire city was a gift from the giant's mercy... Otherwise, they would all have perished in the calamity caused by the descent of the Heavenly Emperor.

However, Aiwass, who accepted this worship, was not particularly happy.

This incredibly fluid act of kneeling is precisely proof of the deep-seated error that has plagued Anathapindika to this day.

"...The fetus of the apocalypse will eventually be strangled by the umbilical cord of tomorrow."

Now, Aiwass has finally understood the last line of this prophetic poem.

The fetus of the apocalypse—that undoubtedly refers to Yuan Tiansi.

Yuan Tiansi is a child who can only be born from the apocalypse.

If the apocalypse hadn't come, the Forbidden Pillar God might never have been born, let alone died in the twilight. And without the birth of Amber, Yuan Tian Si would not have existed.

So, what is the umbilical cord that enables this fetus to be born?

—It is precisely the thorn of sin.

Now, the thorns of sin have formed Aiwass's deer head, and the overflowing thorns have formed a scarf, making it look as if the thorns of sin are wrapped around the giant's neck.

All the prophecies of the past have been fulfilled today.

This amazed Aiwass—what kind of prophet could withstand the disturbances of ten lifetimes and still clearly see Aiwass's future?
"What are you thinking about, Aiwass?"

A soft voice drifted out: "The prophecy of 'Rest'?"

Aiwass lowered his head.

That was the Gray Sky Division, already badly damaged after being directly attacked by Paradise Lost.

The crystal four-sided mace in his hand was completely broken, leaving only a cracked handle.

Gray Sky Si himself only has his shoulders and above remaining, making him look like a passport photo.

Only after completely losing the power of lying did Aiwass finally see Gray Sky Chief's true face—

It had the exact same appearance as Crocus Chroxos.

Both were elven girls in their early twenties, but their hair colors differed from their sisters. Chroxius had long, pinkish-purple hair—pink on the outside and purple on the inside. Gray Celestial, on the other hand, had pure black hair, just like his father Hermes.

Now, only the part above the shoulders of Gray Sky remains, and it is impossible to determine Gray Sky's gender based on his appearance alone.

"...Ottolucos?"

Aiwass looked at Gray Sky and asked uncertainly.

Otto Lucos smiled gently and replied, "It's me."

"—That so-called 'prophecy,' I made it back then." "...No wonder."

Aiwass suddenly realized.

After all, Aiwass himself possessed the ability to disrupt prophecies. Any prophecy or prophetic ability related to Aiwass would be disrupted and thus rendered ineffective. Aiwass even wondered if it was a prophecy made by the Lord of Scales and Feathers himself... but upon further reflection, it seemed that the boss had no motive to do such a thing.

He even worried that the prophecy itself might be related to nothingness. Otherwise, he couldn't imagine anything that could break through the disturbances of ten lifetimes of reincarnation...

And now, Aiwass finally understands—

This is not a prophecy, but a "premonition".

It's not about "believing it will definitely happen," but rather "hoping it will happen."

How can we ensure that the prophecy is perfectly fulfilled?
The answer is simple: take it personally.

For example, if you predict that you will make a name for yourself at the age of forty, then work hard until you are forty; if you predict that you will die on your eightieth birthday, then prepare poison on that day.

The Gray Sky Division did not precisely predict the details of every event ten thousand years in the future, but rather made announcements in advance and pushed each event to take place before it did.

"Is this... your understanding of 'hope'?"

"Aivas asked in a low voice."

He now knows that Gray Sky Chief sacrificed his life to complete the chain of events and to achieve the great feat of defeating nothingness.

What he hopes for is that after the void is defeated and the path of "miracle" is established, he can return from the depths of the source river and complete the path of "hope".

Just like what the Geometry Astronomy Bureau did—

Follow the path of wisdom and the thought of truth, and use another path to reach that unrepeatable peak, thereby surpassing it.

This is precisely "hope".

"Yes."

Ottolucus smiled gently, a strange tenderness on his face: "Even in the apocalypse, we must maintain the light of civilization; when violence spirals out of control, we must still strive to preserve the brilliance of order; when old wisdom has reached its limit, we must seek a new path to surpass it... I think that is hope. It is a new brilliance born from miracles."

Even if it's just a lie left over from ancient times... it's only so that we can hold out until tomorrow.

"This is my understanding of hope. Loki, as the one who proposed 'premature death,' is the only one who understands what I'm trying to do. After all, this idea itself is, in some ways, the same as 'premature death'... The only difference is that premature death focuses on today's destruction, while hope based on lies is for tomorrow's survival."

After speaking, Ottolukos remained silent for a while.

Her body continued to disintegrate, turning into specks of light.

When the "dark and unclear gray" reached its final moment, it emitted such a clear and pure radiance.

Suddenly, Ottolukos slowly closed his eyes.

She recited each word carefully, as if she were her sister: "In the name of the rising sun, the blazing fire, and the vermilion, I worship the innocent three times. I behold the face of the noble aura, the Son of the Candle..."

"...I would like to see Hercules again, is that alright?"

Gray Sky Chief's voice was so earnest, almost pleading.

(End of this chapter)