Forge a path to success

Karlsoder relaxed: "It seems the design of this little thing is perfect. What's its name?"

“Considering that it will also serve as a guard dog and our signboard…” Vansalar pondered, “I’m going to call it Shadow Woof Dog.”

"It sounds awful! No way!!" Karsold screamed.

"What's wrong with being approachable?"

"No, no, no, absolutely not! Our Mage Tower cannot become a laughing stock!" Karsod shook his head vigorously. "Who can give it a catchy name?"

"Shadowhound." "No difference!" "Shadow Beast." "Too villainous!" "Woof woof woof." "Gag Vansalar."

"Slaughtering demons." "If you keep this up, I'll throw you all out." "Slaughtering demons."

“This name…” Karsold thought for a moment, “is quite cool.”

"Don't do that, is our adorable watchdog going to bark at ghosts?"

"It's not a bad thing to teach kids a lesson; spending time with ghosts can help them develop courage," Vansalal chuckled maliciously.

"Then it's settled. The magical lifeform of point 2 will be called Demon Slayer." Karsold laughed. "Hey, Archmage, you have a new nickname. From today onwards, we'll call you 'Lord of Demon Slayers'!"

·

The number of Shadowhounds grew far faster than he had imagined. He thought he would have thousands of perspectives, but just one year later, he had 357,000. Thank-you notes poured in like snowflakes, with countless families expressing their gratitude and recounting how the Shadowhounds had saved the lives of their entire families.

Vansalar didn't read a single letter, because he had the perspective of all the demons, and he had "personally" participated in every rescue. A small number of people wrote in, describing the creature's terrifying appearance and how it kept them awake at night. Vansalar carefully read every letter of protest and made targeted improvements based on people's suggestions.

“I’m pretty sure your ghouls look even more terrifying,” Karsold said. “They didn’t have this much…glass shards on them a few years ago.”

"Yes, yes. I did it on purpose. Many parents have complained that their children have nightmares after watching it."

"Then why don't you change and become more virtuous?"

“Children need to be more ambitious, my friends. There are more disasters in this world than hairs on our heads. If they’re afraid even of the guard dog, how will they get through the rest of their lives?” Vansalar said. “Once they get used to this, they’ll look down on those who are different. That’s courage cultivated from childhood.”

“That makes sense.” Karsold bent down and teased the two-headed dog. “Alright, it’s your dog, you decide. Black Moon has been acting strangely lately, I’m going to stay at the front lines for a while.”

"Go quickly, savior. The Realm of Submersion awaits you."

"Screw you."

Karsord transformed into a rainbow and soared into the sky. Vansalal bowed his head and said to the two-headed dog, "Although the aggressiveness of its appearance needs to be further enhanced, I am prepared to temporarily suspend the development of the hunting-type Demon Slayer."

“Awoo?” Vaklo said. Only he could understand what this thing was saying.

“Yes, because of you.” Vansalar sighed. “You’re a perfect example of what not to do, you little thing. After all this training, you come out and tell me life is meaningless. This won’t do; if this continues, we’ll fall into an abyss of meaninglessness.”

“Awooo!” said Vaklo, or perhaps Lockva, who couldn’t tell the two heads apart.

This two-headed demon was the only successful experiment on Little Dust Island, and it was also the turning point that made him realize the true nature of demons. The power of shadows is dangerous; they love to fight too much, and can easily become living weapons. He's considering teaching the little one to draw, trying to cultivate some character and refine their temperament.

Then a new warning sounded in his mind: the Demon Slayer had encountered something it couldn't handle. Vansalal screamed; his lesson plans weren't ready yet.

“I’m about to become a superhero.” He pinched Vacko’s ear hard. “Open your mouth wider, little thing.”

He leaped into Vaklo's mouth and emerged from the mouth of another Lurker on the distant Dust Isle. He smelled the briny scent of the sea breeze; it was a peaceful harbor town, where no one had yet been killed or injured, but the Lurker trembled wildly, howling incessantly at the empty space.

Vansalar pulled a chain from the air and laughed.

"It's you... Long time no see, giant jellyfish."

The great demon stood in the shade of the palm tree, his childlike face expressionless.

“Oh, you’re already at mass point five.” Olek frowned. “You are… that…”

"Vansarar".

“That’s the name.” Olek seemed to only remember Karsold. “Your development is rapid, but you shouldn’t overstep your bounds. This is my game.”

"I was surprised to learn your true identity, mainly because I was surprised that someone of your high status would make fun of the fate of such a lowly person like trash." Vansalar flicked his finger and put on a pair of sunglasses.

“You’re young, so you don’t understand. Over time, memories and meanings fade, and you have to learn to find enjoyment in life.” Olek narrowed his eyes. “Try to stop me. I don’t mind teaching a young person a lesson for passing the time.”

“I can’t play with you, you’ve done me a favor,” Vansalal smiled. “But if you ask me… playing games alone is really no fun, it’s too boring. It’s only a game if there are at least two people.”

"You're just looking for an excuse to reduce casualties."

"You can support villains, scoundrels, and heretics; I'll support the kind-hearted and righteous, or the ordinary citizens who don't want to die." Vansalar gestured wildly, "Let's see if misfortune or courage wins in the end!"

"I am not interested."

"Ah~ Misfortune has surrendered! It seems the heavens truly favor the hero!"

Olek stared at him intently.

"Okay, let's play a game. If you lose this round, I'll take your life."

"I can't wait... Come on, let's start the game."

And so, from that day on, they began a long, long game. In countless matches, demons and mages argued and laughed. They traversed thousands of dust islands, they settled on one dust island, they played hundreds of matches a day, and they completed one round of the game a year.

Van Salal always stands on the side of justice. He cheats. He sends messages in dreams. He flips tables. He uses every means to interfere with the outcome of the game. He never plays by the rules because he must win.

He wins every time.

·

"Lord Vansalal, the Imperial Research Institute has sent a warning letter." Vaklo helped him open the letter with scissors. "The warning is divided into 126 points, the second of which is that they have observed you interacting with the Cursed Demon too frequently..."

"Can't those giants see that I'm sacrificing myself to feed the tiger?" Vansalar said weakly. "Just for this, I'm going to create an avatar to play chess with him."

"To be honest, I think you had a lot of fun."

"Have it?"

"It is clear."

“I admit it’s an interesting fellow,” Vansalar said, scratching his chin. “But this isn’t exactly a major crime. Those old trees in the city-state have some secret relationship with demons. Why don’t they warn the city-state?”

Wacro twitched his ears: "My dear lord, the city-state does have a true god after all~"

“Look at them, they’re not treating everyone the same now,” Vansalar clicked his tongue. “What was their first warning?”

“The risk of magical creatures going out of control,” Vacklo said. “The scholars felt that our apprentices would have difficulty controlling this enormous power, and he wrote in his letter that it was ‘a sign of the abyss.’”

"I thought he was exaggerating. Four archmages and one supreme mage were insured with five layers of protection! Even if an apprentice was corrupted by the Darkmoon, it was impossible..."

Vansalal suddenly sat up as a chilling scene flashed through his mind amidst millions of perspectives.

“Vaklo.” “Yes, sir.”

They disappeared into the shadows, and emerged from a small shadow. It was the shadow of a young apprentice, carrying a longbow, like a hunter. He screamed and jumped up, hiding one hand behind his back.

"Heavens! Archmage Vansalal!" The apprentice exclaimed in surprise and delight, surrounded by the carcasses of a group of wild beasts. "What are you doing here? I just finished off a few monsters..."

"Take your hands off!" Vansalal growled. "What have you done!"

The apprentice reluctantly reached out, his right arm turning completely into shadow, its limbs covered in irregular, sharp spikes. Those were the claws of the demon.

“Grand Master, I created a demon of slaughter using fragments of my own limbs and emotions,” he said boastfully. “It works very well, far more powerful than shadow tricks…”

Vansalar felt dizzy. He was using himself as a material to create magical creatures. He had achieved partial elementalization. At only level 2, he dared to explore elementalization. He slapped the apprentice hard.

"You think you're so clever?" Vansalar roared in anger. "That's a shadow! It's restrained destruction and impulse!! How dare you attempt such a thing? Your consciousness will be swallowed by emotions!!"

“I am not afraid, Grand Mage!!” the apprentice stood up and shouted. His eyes burned with a fierce light. “I can overcome it, I have the courage!”

For the first time since adulthood, Vansalar felt fear.

·

“Karlsord, I need to have a serious talk with you.” Vansalal’s face was ashen. “Stop what you’re doing right now, this is—”

“I was just about to have a talk with you,” Karsold said. “Please pour me a cup of tea.”

The Venerable Master sat before the observatory, utterly exhausted, his appearance withered like a living corpse. Vansalar frowned deeply; he had never seen his friend like this before.

"My God, what happened to you? Who beat you up like this?"

“What?” Karsold said, bewildered. He then realized what he meant. “No, no, I didn’t lose. I just played a bit too much.”

How many matches did you play?

Karlsold laughed. “Every second,” he said. “Every second.”

Vansalar was stunned. "How is this possible? Two true gods, plus you and the emperor..."

He suddenly fell silent, and Karsold raised his eyes as a massive stream of information surged forth as light.

He saw the Fallen fall like rain onto Dust Island as night fell; he saw tens of thousands of demons tread the land as the tide rose; he saw the mist envelop the helpless people, the tentacles of demons piercing the minds of children, and the weak people dominated by black blood wielding their swords against their own kind.

This is a second in the realm of motion.

It is in the dark sea, every second passing by.

“How is that possible…” Vansalar repeated unconsciously.

This is not the Mysterious Realm of Senluo, nor is it the Dust Island he once visited; the world he knew was not like this.

This is the truth of the turbulent realm, beyond the protection of the righteous gods.

“The power of the Abyss far exceeds our imagination,” Karsod said softly. “I have seen Good Will with my own eyes this time. He is stronger than I am.”

“But you are a god! How could it…” Vansalar was stunned by his own conjecture. “No way, Karl.”

“I haven’t reached their level yet, so I dare not speak presumptuously.” Karsod shook his head. “But I know that beyond the deep space lies the Cradle of Oblivion. Behind the Funeral God lies Eternal Time. As for what lies at the bottom of the Sea of ​​Illusions, that is a secret even Zhulong has not known.”

“I shouldn’t criticize the Emperor’s actions. He has never been a warmonger; we were too naive.” Karsod closed his eyes. “The time is different, my friend. The moment we are talking is months, even years, for some Dust Isles. We live on different timelines, and countless tragedies are happening right now, and by the time I finish speaking, those stories will be over.”

Only in deep space can you see the whole picture. I watched as thousands of dust islands were swallowed by the abyss... while I was pulled by the gravity of the dark moon, powerless to do anything..."

“Stop, Carl. You did your best.”

“I could have done more,” Karsold said wearily. The tea was brought, but he didn’t touch it. He stubbornly looked up at the dark moon in the night sky.

Even in the Mysterious Realm of Senluo, nighttime is always the most terrifying time. The power of the Candle Dragon can only protect for half the time; when night falls, the black moon hangs high in the sky, and black blood can fall at any moment, transforming into the claws of the abyss. That gravity will cause the ocean tides, and the demons will rise to the islands with the waves.

Karl Sord stared blankly for a while, then suddenly said, "The world shouldn't be like this. People should live in safe places, and shouldn't... so easily... encounter heretics."

“That’s just how the world is,” Vansalar said with a wry smile. “What good ideas do you have now?”

“There should be a barrier,” Karsod murmured to himself. “Between the earth and deep space, there should be something… something that can block out the moonlight, something that can block gravity… something like… something like…”

“The sky…?” Vansalar said.

“What a wonderful word!” Karsod exclaimed excitedly. “There should be a sky! I will create such a thing, and when I become a true god—”

His tone lowered; he was, after all, not a true god. He harbored a desire to rule the world, but lacked the power to match it. The two old friends sat in silence for a while. Vansalar remembered the purpose of his visit, but could not speak.

He then said, "Karl, what were you originally going to say?"

"Ah." Karsod seemed to snap out of a daze. "Sorry, I've gotten carried away. I haven't been able to control my thoughts lately..."

He took a sip of his tea, which had long since gone cold: "Friend, we are short of troops at the front. The Empire's research and development is stuck at the technological singularity; they are not yet able to mass-produce low-quality soldiers, but we desperately need more combat power."

"I want to... create another batch of Demon Slayers."

Vansalar downed his tea in one gulp and laughed heartily.

"You can leave it to me without worry," he said.

Chapter 236 The Path to Godhood for the Supreme Being (4)

Vansalar felt like the busiest man in the world. He communicated with the top echelons of various powers, taught courses at the academy, organized the Spiral Tower's anniversary celebrations, played chess with Olek, negotiated with the pedantic giants of the Empire, trained apprentices in the laboratory, communicated with Vaklo, and supervised every demon to prevent human experimentation from happening again.

He accomplished all of this in a second.

“There’s a lack of successors, my friend.” He stroked the chess piece in his hand. “The best batch of lads have only just become Free Winds. There are only three Rainbow Mages capable of handling projects at most. I dream of developing time-travel magic, so I can travel a hundred years into the future and have students all over the world.”

"Will your tower still exist a hundred years from now?" Olek sneered.

Our dream will never die!

"I can't remember how the last person who said that died; it seems like it was suicide."

"Even if some of us are unlucky enough to die, our students will carry on our will."

“That’s truly remarkable.” Olek tapped the chessboard. “I admire you guys, especially when it comes to teaching your apprentices.”

While pouring water, Vaklo interjected, "This is quite interesting, Lord Olek. You see, I've been taught to think for myself."

"How can you possibly be motivated to try to teach those stupid, ignorant, stubborn, rude, and savage pups like this stupid dog?" Olek sneered. "If I were you, those idiots would have been wiped out long ago."

Vansalar and Vaklo exchanged a glance. Vaklo leaned down and whispered loudly, "Good heavens! My lord! It sounds like our cold-blooded, despicable, and vile Lord Olek is trying to become a teacher!"

"What a brave child to suffer such misfortune!" Vansalar exclaimed. "I bless him! I cheer for him!"