Tonight, Alice joins the hunt.

What followed was even simpler. While the conflict between revenge and war drew the attention of many other powerful beings, a strategy of forming alliances and defeating them one by one could quickly dismantle many lower races, allowing the power of the Human Lord to snowball. In the end, all that would remain was a pure contest of strength.

With two against one, and the true mastermind behind the Lord of Avenging remaining hidden, the Reincarnators' chances of victory would be over 70%. Furthermore, Chu Xuan has a scheme in mind—he seems to have secretly formed an alliance with a super-powerful figure whose name cannot be revealed. Therefore, their odds of winning exceed 90%.

A 90% chance of victory is a perfect score that fits Alice's obsessive-compulsive tendencies. If the vampires drag things out a bit longer, and the mortals take their time, the final odds might increase slightly, but that would also increase the chances of something going wrong along the way. So, the variable that Remilia brings doesn't actually have a significant impact on her. It doesn't affect the overall situation.

So she found herself with nothing to do.

Because she wasn't the one who orchestrated this scheme; it was actually Chu Xuan who led the plan, and she only played a supporting role in a few stages. She knew very well that there were many things hidden beneath this apparent scheme that she didn't know about, but even the things that were on the surface were already the best she could manage.

There's nothing more I can do.

Alice thought to herself, her steps becoming slower and slower, leaving a long trail of footprints on the wasteland covered with spirit remains.

More importantly, I don't actually want to do anything else.

Remilia's words weren't without merit; whether they were right or wrong was one thing, but Alice was indeed plunged into self-reflection because of them. She thus detected subtle errors in the path she had followed, and thereby corrected her own heart.

The desire for control isn't wrong; the key is whether it's essential to Alice. Having just escaped Alucard's fortress and suppressed her control urges while transmitting intelligence back to the Great Hollow Base, Alice's schedule was still packed. She had many experiments to conduct and numerous plans to fine-tune, and these miscellaneous tasks were enough to consume all her free time.

However, this was only the beginning.

After traveling about 700 kilometers across the wasteland, Alice found herself not really caring about her unfinished projects and experiments. And when she had traveled approximately 1,500 kilometers, she suddenly felt that the 'suspected protagonist' in Zhao Yingkong's settlement wasn't worth her time.

what does this mean?

This means that the driving force behind her exploration, pioneering spirit, and dedication to knowledge is not a thirst for learning but a desire for control. It means that her yearning to exhaust all change is not at the core of her thinking—perhaps she doesn't even care whether she can solve every puzzle she encounters. Perhaps…

[Am I merely afraid that the pieces in my hand will slip out of my control, afraid that unexpected variables will shatter the stage and script I've meticulously crafted...?]

Alice stopped in her tracks. With the further suppression of her 'desire for control,' she found that even the desire to move forward had vanished. She looked at her clean, gloved hands, then at her slender feet in boots, feeling the orderly flow of power within her body, and her thoughts grew increasingly profound.

My own path is wrong—or more accurately, I haven't correctly recognized my own path. I've merely found something that seems plausible but isn't, and grasped it, even stimulating a pseudo-spiritual light within it. What I truly desire is not what I originally perceived it to be.

One's own path is not about change, but something that contains change, or something similar in nature. The driving force behind this path is not the desire for knowledge, but the desire for control. And what exactly triggers this desire for control remains unclear.

All my actions are driven by my desire for control. And what triggers that desire, causing me to suffer from the 'fear of losing control,' must be my inner demon. Ah… such a thing actually exists? If I hadn't realized this and directly approached the fourth stage with the concept of 'change,' I probably would have been defeated the moment I faced my true inner demon. Unless…

[...unless my inner demons hide from me and prevent me from losing.]

The girl chuckled softly, casually dismissing the delusional thought. A brief name had just flashed through her mind—her past, something she had long ago foreseen would one day become an obstacle to her advancement. And not long ago, she had even noticed something strange because of that name…

...What did we discover again?

Strange thoughts surfaced in her mind, only to vanish instantly under some unknown interference. The witch's thoughts experienced a brief interruption, which she quickly dismissed.

She stretched out her hand and snapped her fingers.

The next moment, the soil beneath her feet became smooth and clean, and in an instant, tender green grass and tiny white flowers sprouted. She slowly sat down, and the little devil who had been following behind her held up an exquisite parasol for her. In that instant, even the spirits in the sky stopped falling, and what came into view was a vast and boundless expanse of white.

This place may have once been a kingdom, a land of birdsong and fragrant flowers, a place of clear streams and warm afternoon sun—no, not perhaps, this was indeed the place two thousand years ago. Alice gleaned such images from the remnants of information. And the reason all this has become what it is today is because of a conflict two thousand years ago between the Winged Race and the Fairy Race, which transformed this place, once a paradise, into the desolate wasteland it is today.

The war destroyed everything here.

Through the hands of the witches, another, even grander war is about to unfold here.

Alice closed her eyes, sensing the subtle shifts in the air around her, her mind surprisingly calm. She realized that after suppressing her 'desire for control,' she had almost completely lost all agency, becoming a truly lethargic, unmotivated person. She anticipated something was about to happen, but she couldn't muster even the slightest interest in interfering.

"What should I do?"—this question kept echoing in the young girl's mind.

"There seems to be nothing I can do, since all the plans are proceeding smoothly. I don't need to do anything unnecessary to affect the final outcome." — This was the answer the girl's heart gave time and time again.

"Should I go back to the Great Hollow and see Patchouli?"—a question arose in the girl's mind.

"No, she's busy right now. I'll go... I can help her speed up the operation of the Great Hollow Base." — The girl's inner voice provided the answer.

However, despite reaching a conclusion, her feet did not move. This discovery stirred the girl's heart once again. But unlike her previous confusion, this feeling now bordered on panic.

[...Was my feeling for Patchouli also based on a desire for control?]

The witch fell into deep thought, and as she did so, the celestial phenomena around her began to change dramatically. The departing spirits were not moving away from this place because of her will. Something else was causing this phenomenon.

The next moment, the storm arrived with an open door.

Chapter Thirty-Two: The Primitive Wilderness

Zheng Zha remembered that the team's advisors had said at the beginning of this world that it was very likely another scenario developed and evolved from the Lord of the Rings universe. Because in this world, many races and settings could be found to be similar to the timeline of Lord of the Rings.

This inference is correct. What may have been mere conjecture lacking evidence in the past has now become a historical truth. Because he will soon witness the world's past firsthand, taking in the decisive evidence.

Time was rewinding; even past the point in time when Zheng himself had arrived, time continued to flow backward. He still didn't know which region he had traveled to through that mirror-like demon, nor did he know which celestial region the location where he had fought those various demonic species in the past, or rather, in the future, belonged to. However, this didn't matter, because compared to everything he had seen so far, it was hardly a secret worth paying attention to.

He saw the barren land beneath his feet transform from crimson to emerald green, and the leaden sky above him visibly change into blue skies and white clouds. He saw fierce energy bombardments converge from the ground, transforming into beams that inverted back into the airship cannons descending from the heavens. He saw the ash-covered bricks and stones reassemble, transforming into exquisite architectural works of art, and many inhabitants living within them.

This place was originally a city, a human city. Thousands of years ago, mortals established a nation here, but at the height of its prosperity, it was targeted by goblin airships as a tactical objective and the entire kingdom was reduced to a sea of ​​fire.

Time continued to flow backward, and the once prosperous and bustling city gradually became simple and rugged. Dense buildings became sparse, ancient hero statues transformed from the worn to the brand new, and soon even the stonemasons who made the statues went from being old and frail to being robust young men and then rolled back into their mothers' wombs. Further on, even the floor where the statues once stood became desolate, leaving only dozens of thatched huts and stone caves built by the water.

—The mortals of the feudal era became the mortals of primitive society, and those goblins who turned mortals into dust thousands of years later returned to the stage where they were created by their gods, or created their gods through prayer. In that distant era, there was actually not much difference between mortals and the myriad races on earth.

Why are the orcs called "orc 'people'"? It's because they have a "human" element as the main component, contrasting it with the "orc" element. In ancient times, orcs and humans were allies, sharing the same river. This is because the orcs of that era didn't possess the superhuman perception and motor skills they later exhibited. They were, at best, just furry, horned mortals, and mortals in that era were worthy of the title "terrifying upright apes."

This world doesn't have an Age of Gods—or rather, only the time Zheng Zha arrived at can be called an Age of Gods. Before that, there was the ancient and vast primordial wilderness. Before life reaches a certain level, antiquity doesn't equate to strength, and the old doesn't necessarily surpass the new. In that primordial wilderness, all races were as weak as mortals.

Powerful species such as the Fantasy Race, Giant Race, Dragon Spirit Race, and Sky Wing Race have yet to appear in the world. The Vampire Race, while absorbing the blood of mortals, must also pay with currency and labor. The Orc Race needs to rely on the wisdom of mortals to hunt enough spoils on the primordial land. Goblins and Forest Elves are frequent participants in primitive trade, exchanging minerals and plant materials for the prey hunted by mortals and the handicrafts woven by their skilled hands.

Zheng Zha finally understood why mortals in this world were able to survive the earth-shattering divine war until the arrival of the Reincarnation Team, and why mortals before that were able to establish civilizations, settlements, and cities time and time again. Because in ancient times, mortals were the dominant force in this world. Apart from the mechanical creatures that flew aimlessly across the land, their origins and destinations unknown, the terrifying upright apes were the most important force on the primordial land.

The reason mortals have fallen to their current state is because no god has ever existed among them. And when the first gods were born, the six transcendent races at the top did not even exist in the world. As Zheng Zha continued his journey upstream along the river of time, he witnessed the moment the first gods descended.

She must have been a slender girl, outwardly indistinguishable from an ordinary mortal. Countless scrolls floated behind her, and her clothing was simple yet distinctive. It seems that the first Machine Race was created by her, and in her time, the world was desolate, devoid of any living beings except herself.

For some reason, Zheng Zha felt a deep sense of familiarity upon seeing her. It was as if he had encountered her long ago and shared a certain karmic connection. She also seemed shrouded in many enigmatic mysteries, such as her appearance, her attire, and the book behind her—since she descended as the first living being, she shouldn't possess a fixed image, nor need any adornment or covering. Gods, on the other hand, should be born from prayers or concepts, but in the time of her arrival, this world was nothing but emptiness.

Zheng Zha opened his mouth, then realized in that instant that he was foolishly caught in a time reversal. However, just as he was feeling embarrassed, he discovered that the primordial god, now in the form of a young girl, had returned to its original radiant form, resembling a giant sphere of light, and the eyes that first emerged from that radiance were unmistakably fixed on the spot where he stood!

That gaze seemed to contain only pure doubt, yet the energy carried by this primordial god's gaze pierced through the protection of time flow and touched his physical body. His hand, which he instinctively used to shield himself, felt a slight pain, and a small, bloody gash appeared on it!

He suddenly realized something that seemed very ominous. That was...

[This goddess who first descended upon the world... she looks... kind of like me!!!]

The next moment, the primordial land before him exploded! In the reversed space-time, he returned to the primordial chaos before anything was born.

A terrifying thought flashed through his mind. He immediately suppressed it. Instead of worrying about such things, he decided to investigate the mirror that had sent him to the past and the clock chiming during the time reversal. He, Zheng, desperately hoped it was a natural phenomenon and not the work of some unfathomable being.

However, he also knew that what he could do was ultimately just wishful thinking.

After all, he was just a fool, only knowing how to grab a knife and kill people, and needing a smart person to tell him where to cut and how hard to cut. The only thing he could actually do was to memorize everything that happened before him, then, after leaving this terrible place, throw it all to the smart people and let them slowly fret over it.

But how do I get out of here?

Mr. Zheng, with his profound self-awareness, attempted to think, but decided to give up after a few seconds. The pent-up depression and murderous intent that had been weighing on his chest had gradually dissipated with the passage of time. Although the two million reward points still pained him greatly, he quickly realized that so many reward points didn't seem like such a good thing after all.

Over two million reward points… Ah, without a doubt, these reward points are more than enough for all members of the Central Continent team to redeem a 'Return to Origin'. But even if they really had that much income, would their teammates… really choose to leave the Main God Space?

No, they won't choose to leave. Because before, we lived in a life-or-death situation, and we saw ourselves as ordinary citizens. So, in the God Realm, we struggled only to survive, and becoming stronger was solely for the purpose of leaving the God Realm in the future. But now… things are different.

We don't live simply to live; we live for our ideals, our beliefs, our dreams, and our aspirations. Chu Xuan will definitely stay, because only in the cycle of reincarnation can he find his own true love. Margot will definitely stay, because only the Supreme God can provide her with a vast amount of knowledge and resources. And even if she stays, Norrell won't leave, and Zhao Yingkong can only eliminate the hidden dangers in her heart by relying on the power of the Supreme God.

They won't leave, and neither will the others. Zhan Lan… it's a long story. Zhang Jie has probably gotten used to life in the Main God Space. Ming Yanwei and Ba Wang seem to be looking forward to reaching higher levels. Ling Dian might leave, but Xiao Honglu won't abandon such a good place to live. As for Zhang Heng… my contact with him seems to be decreasing.

Zheng Zha shook his head, banishing these chaotic thoughts from his mind. He would set aside the ideas of the few who were still relatively new to the group for the time being. And with the vast majority of his companions hoping to stay, he probably wouldn't abandon his responsibilities and leave them behind.

If I can't walk, then all those reward points I have are practically a burden. While this reason is extremely weak and easily riddled with flaws, it's still a reasonably plausible explanation, and since it's plausible, it can be used.

These reward points aren't really that useful anyway, so just throw them away.

[It's just a mere two million four hundred and ninety-seven thousand seven hundred... just a little over two million reward points! Just a mere two million!]

【I...I'm not heartbroken at all!】

Someone's heart roared, uttering a heart-wrenching cry like a fox dealing with sour grapes. It was just a mere two million reward... a mere million... a mere six-figure reward point! Just a small sum, not worth bothering with!

Anyway, nobody here knows about this! No matter how ridiculous the reason is, he's convinced of it!

—This is how Mr. Zheng, who is not sad at all, firmly declared.

then……

"Um, well... I'm not entirely sure what the financial situation is like for reincarnators these days. After all, inflation is something even the Supreme God might experience. But could you please keep your voice down when you're muttering to yourself? I've been sitting here for quite a while now. I can't just pretend I didn't hear you..."

Behind me, a voice with a rather unfamiliar tone, and seemingly tinged with a little embarrassment, rang out.

Mr. Zheng slowly turned his head, his spine making a series of 'crunching' sounds.

He saw a strange girl dressed in purple sitting atop a massive clock that looked as if it had been struck a heavy blow, riddled with cracks and completely stopped. Her golden, tilted, cross-shaped eyes held a look of pity, something like, "So there are people in this world even dumber than me!" If he could still think, he probably would have thought the girl looked vaguely familiar. However…

"Sorry, your thoughts were a little scattered just now." The girl tapped her forehead and nodded slightly, seemingly troubled. "And I'm a little bit sensitive to these subtle mental fluctuations. So unfortunately, what you were thinking wasn't much different from yelling in my ear."

Outside, the flow of time continued its relentless advance. The chaotic world regained its order, revealing a scene of apocalyptic catastrophe. Gods and all races waged war against each other in reverse, while countless meteors rose from the restored craters, swirling back into the sky. Vaporized lakes and oceans recombine, returning to a state of tranquil peace. Desolate kingdoms were restored to wholeness, followed by a reversed prosperity.

This is the previous era. It is the world's original state before the script of No Game No Life Zero began. Absolute light and absolute darkness unveiled the prelude to the final war, Ragnarok, at the top of the sky. And before the world was destroyed and everything turned into eternal chaos, a white city appeared at Zheng Zha's feet.

That was the White City, Minas Tirith. The evidence was the white sacred tree standing to the side between the two, and the sacred tree guards wearing armor bearing the white tree's emblem—this should have been a major discovery that Zheng Zha would take very seriously, but at this moment he ignored it completely.

Because he discovered that he could move and speak again. Although his body was still in the reversed flow of time, he no longer resembled an unfortunate puppet as before.

“You…” Zheng Zha subconsciously tightened his grip on the Destruction Greatsword that he hadn’t let go of. “Since when have you started listening?”

"From the very beginning, around the time when time started to reverse?" The girl tilted her head slightly, revealing a seemingly innocent expression. "Although I think I should apologize to you, since the time reversal was actually my fault. Some disrespectful old man just hit me with a clock formed from divine authority. Accidentally, the timeline got messed up. But I don't have the ability to make time jump to that extent. So, I think..."

Her little head tilted to the other side again.

"You should also bear some responsibility."

Ah... so that's how the clock chimed back then...

Zheng Zha felt as if a nerve in his head had snapped.

Then he raised the knife.

"Primordial World—" The primitive appearance of the world I had seen not long ago, as well as the chaotic landscape before that, along with some insights and experiences that I didn't know where they came from, flooded into my mind.

"—The creation of heaven and earth!"

Chapter Thirty-Three: I'm Angry!

Are you angry? —Yes, I am.

Did you hit it? —No.

The deep red broadsword struggled to slice through what could be called air—a transparent medium—as chaotic currents of time washed over it like the tides of the Qiantang River. Though the sword was sturdy, it could only yield to this relentless onslaught. The power surging within it was immense and vast, but under the weight of infinite time, it too eventually reached its limit.

Zheng Zha couldn't remember when he learned the 'Primordial Chaos: Creation of Heaven and Earth' technique; he only felt a vague recollection of it somewhere in his memory. And the last time he used it, he shattered a small part of a planet. In fact, he regretted it the instant he swung the blade, because he was merely enraged, not truly hating the stranger. Therefore, he slightly deflected the trajectory of his blade as he slashed. If everything had been normal, the strike would have only grazed the woman's hair.

That was a good idea, but unfortunately, it wasn't needed. The immense force, powerful enough to destroy a planet, was completely neutralized by the surging current of time when it was still about half a meter away from the girl. And the current of time continued to operate, forcing Zheng Zha's slashing blade back to his front.

The action was slightly awkward.