Shepherd Tantra

Chapter 1336 The Death of the Snake Father
"...Kill the author?"

The giant feathered serpent slowly said, "That suits me just as well."

"……what?"

Even Aiwass himself did not expect the Serpent Father to react in this way.

"Ai Shiping—do you still remember what you researched before?"

Quetzalcoatl suddenly asked, "Regarding the research on 'taboo'."

In that instant, memories that were not previously present suddenly surfaced in Aiwass's mind:
Yes, he remembered... In a sense, he was the very culprit who caused the Whispers of the Void to invade.

Perhaps the twilight creature that once finished its meal will eventually turn back and completely devour this world; and because of the wormhole it left behind when it left, the world's protective membrane has been damaged and could be discovered at any time.

But what directly triggered the Twilight Invasion—or rather, accelerated this process—was Aiwas's dangerous research.

Because no one truly understood the specific reasons for the destruction of the previous era. No one knew how the Twilight Seeds descended… But now, people have finally identified the key. That crucial condition was the establishment of the “River of Error.”

Once a mistake exists, there is a difference between "correction" and "indulgence," between "punishment" and "forgiveness." And the whispers of the void are precisely "the twilight of indulgence and forgiveness."

People cannot accept their mistakes, so they run away—until they escape into nothingness and meaninglessness.

In other words.

It is precisely because Ai Shiping is about to become a pillar god that this world faces destruction!

Of course he needs to save the world. Because it is his responsibility.

From this perspective, the true culprit who destroyed the world was Ai Shiping himself.

"--No."

However, Ai Huasi, who was opposed to Ai Shiping, disagreed, saying, "What destroyed the world was twilight, and there is no other answer. This world has the right to move forward, instead of being locked in an iron cage that will tighten sooner or later by the past. Moving forward is not a 'mistake'."

Even Aiwas himself wasn't sure where exactly his thoughts had started to turn into whispers of the void.

However, he was clearly aware that this conclusion was wrong.

"No matter how hypocritical and complete the argument may be, this principle is never wrong: when a person is bound by the punishment of evil people in pursuit of freedom and truth, his heart that pursues freedom and truth is not wrong."

"There's never been a case of a victim who attracts evildoers bearing some responsibility! Not to mention, his motive was to save more people, his will was inherited from his ancestors, and his actions have earned people's approval—"

Aiwass stated firmly, "I do not accept the consequences of his actions, but I acknowledge his heart and his will. And if I were in his position, I would do the same without hesitation."

"If there has to be someone who bears the burden of 'mistakes,' then it should be myself."

"You're right."

Despite using his telepathic abilities, Quetzalcoatl couldn't hear exactly what Aiwass had heard.

But He still gave a definite answer without hesitation.

Because He was certain of one thing: Aiwass was ready to open the River of Error and step onto the forbidden path.

Thus, the Ninth Source River will finally be fully opened up.

So... His mission as the "Transcendent One" has finally been completed.

By this point, the world had completely surpassed the old world.

They successfully opened up the Ninth Source River, completely perfecting the River of Error...

Even though it was just a mistake.

But recognizing the error is the beginning of correcting it.

"—Now that things have come to this, there's nothing to be afraid of."

The feathered serpent straightened its body, its voice becoming resolute: "Let me teach you one last thing, my dearest child."

"……what?"

Aiwass was stunned, his heart skipped a beat: "How could this be..."

Why is this the last thing?
"A secret. Forbidden knowledge that has never been truly practiced. A secret that few people know, and one that I don't want you to use... The opening of a new source river often requires the sacrifice of a pillar god. I had already arranged everything, just waiting for an unexpected event to occur... or for you to mature. I just didn't expect it to come so quickly."

The Serpent Father spoke slowly, flying into the sky: "This world is beyond saving, Ai. Even the gods have been infected, and even Zalwan and I are experiencing auditory hallucinations... It's just like when the last civilization was destroyed. But thankfully, things are different now."

"—We have you. A visitor from another world, a soul that doesn't truly exist in this world, and possessing the potential to bear the foundation of the Pillar God… "...So, I've come up with a plan."

The snake father resolutely said, "Go back to the past and help us find the future."

"...Go back to the past?"

Aiwas murmured.

His pupils trembled.

At this moment, Aiwass seemed to finally understand everything—

[Teacher, there's another way! Quickly, use the Ouroboros! Let's go back in time—]

[Ha...would going back in time even be useful...?]

Memories of the cicada's molting appeared in Aiwas's mind like a hallucination.

That was the conversation between Amber and Aiwas.

Today, Aiwass finally understands what kind of feelings were hidden in "his" sarcastic and desperate words back then.

This is not the "zeroth playthrough".

Instead, it's a world from the "negative one" cycle, or even further back in time—

The world has not only gone through eight cycles.

—For Ai Shiping, what a desperate journey that must have been?
"You should be like a snake that has its tail between its head and tail."

The snake father murmured, gave instructions, and spoke to himself: "You are going back to the past, but you are actually moving forward."

"Don't be afraid... I'll pay for everything, you just need to move forward. Hehehe... Reversing time, there's nothing more 'forbidden' than that."

At this point, the Snake Father paused for a moment, then flew down from the sky, landed beside Aiwass, and affectionately nuzzled him, giving him one last hug.

"...It seems I still can't teach you properly. When you go back, don't look for me anymore... By then, I'll probably have turned into a mindless, emotionless shadow. Don't pay any attention to him... He's not me."

"Go find Zhuanxu, become his student. I can never truly teach you... He was once my researcher, and also my teacher. Tell him everything you've been through, and let him give you advice! You must listen to him!"

"Let's go back to the past, Ai Shiping!"

"—I will use the power of transcendent creation to forge a forbidden new path for you!"

As the Snake Father finished speaking.

He then flew into the sky without looking back.

Only then did Aiwass finally understand—why the Serpent Father wanted to break through the heavens. Why, in every timeline, the Serpent Father would crash into the sky precisely on August 1st…

A shadow always tries to chase its own body.

Just like every dream chases after reality.

What the Serpent Father wanted to break through, what the Serpent Father wanted to surpass, what the Serpent Father wanted to shatter... was not the sky above his head.

It is neither the veil of equilibrium that prevents mortals in the material world from exploring the sky, nor the amber wall that seals the gap in the world's outer shell...

Rather, it is the unchanging truth of the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, which is the curtain called "time"!

"My child, my successor, my greatest creation, my student, my dearest friend, everything to me..."

"...I give you everything, my world."

"【Ouroboros】."

The next moment, the snake father crashed into the sky.

That was the highest ceremony—a ceremony that pierced the veil of time and space.

With a crash like shattering glass, the Serpent Father's body exploded instantly!
Aiwass and Inanna were instantly blasted apart, and a black hole appeared out of thin air, pulling Aiwass into it—

The moment Aiwass crossed the spacetime barrier, the fragment of the Serpent Father's Celestial Decree landed steadily in his hands...

It coalesced into a golden apple.

(End of this chapter)