Dialogue, sacrifice...
These two words combined represent the real truth behind the world and the deliberately concealed history. Settersen instinctively looked at the main screen where a personal live stream was still ongoing, wondering about something that caused his breathing to become heavy.
According to historical texts from various countries, including studies on the myths of these nations, the name "ancient god" did not refer to just one entity but represented an entire race.
Every country has its own legends, but in his country, it was said that an ancient god used their own body to create humans.
However, from the dawn of human intelligence, this painful sacrifice had already begun.
Throughout tens of thousands of years, the entire human race endured great suffering, and attempts had been made over the long years to communicate with the ancient gods.
But in the histories recorded only in texts,
Only two words could describe it: death and brutality.
Without exception, those who tried to communicate all perished.
Additionally, humans had to bear the consequences of attempting dialogue afterward, suffering the ancient gods' punishment and wrath.
In a word, the ancient gods were both the creators and the educators of humans.
Humans had no right to demand anything from the ancient gods; they could only listen and obey.
Indeed, in several attempts, humans had faced several crises of near extinction, with barely one in ten surviving.
According to the historical texts, there was once when humans tried to rebel against the ancient gods, but found that any preparations were utterly insignificant before them.
Ultimately facing near extinction, much like the age of dinosaurs.
It was said that one ancient god, the true creator of humanity, sacrificed themselves to preserve a glimmer of hope for humans.
This ancient god's name was Prometheus.
With various secret texts flashing through his mind, Settersen was at a loss for words for a moment, the only thing he could feel was fear.
He looked down at his right hand resting on the desk.
His right hand was trembling at a barely perceptible frequency.
"Are you afraid?"
As the chief official of the administrative bureau, Hadley could tell what Settersen's behavior meant.
"Yes, I'm very scared."
Settersen nodded and said, "Hadley, this is very dangerous. If it happens again, no one among humans can save us."
At that moment, an outcry arose from the staff below.
Both turned their eyes to the main screen.
A scene of earth-shattering events was unfolding there.
A king cobra, nearly twenty meters long and thick as a century-old tree, was smashing into everything it encountered, like forest trees, as it charged towards a halted RV.
As it reared up high, ready to swallow the entire RV with its gaping mouth.
"It's kind of cute."
The young professor who had just gotten off, carrying a large shoulder bag, introduced casually as he walked slowly toward the cabin they had intentionally set up to attract their target cousin to buy.
With his first step, the king cobra's head snapped off cleanly, as if severed by a sharp blade.
With his second step, the twenty-meter-long king cobra was instantly segmented into dozens of pieces, then pushed aside by an unknown force, crashing to the ground with significant noise.
Simple and straightforward.
Yet it demonstrated the young professor's strength at every turn.
The fierce specter holding the camera, like an obedient dog, wagged its tail following him.
Next, the various monsters they had released, lagging a step behind the king cobra, came face to face with the young professor.
Zombies, clowns, giant ants, vampires,
Including creatures with sheep hooves, twisted horns, sharp claws, fierce faces covered in patterns,
And yetis, mummies, Nosferatus like skeleton sheep, goblin little monsters, and deep-sea monsters, among others.
Such a large group of monsters appearing made for a spectacular scene.
They didn't necessarily have to confront the young professor, but due to some changes, some of the monsters and spirits, hating humans, charged at him first.
This scene captured the attention of everyone in the command center.
Focused, they dared not shift their gaze, not even to blink.
Only Settersen, watching the young professor suddenly smile, muttered to himself.
"It seems he's reminiscing..."
The next second, a voice from the loudspeaker drowned out his words.
"Since everyone's gathered."
York, looking at this large group of monsters, recalled a very classic image and a gif from a previous life, and chuckled.
"Let's clear the field then, as a tribute to you."
With that, York flipped his right hand down, and as the charging group of monsters was about to reach him, an unstoppable force burst forth from him.
Substantial white energy replaced everything, and in an instant, the entire space, including the main screen, lit up.
"Oh my God..."
A staff member in the command center, staring at the glowing York emitting a holy aura through the screen, instinctively covered her mouth, feeling somewhat doubtful about life.
She couldn't think of any words to describe what she was seeing, only the word "God" seemed fitting enough to help her reassess this person, preventing her worldview from collapsing instantly.
Just this image alone would be unforgettable for her, something she'd even discuss with her children, ensuring it was passed down through generations.
"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light..."
This phrase, almost murmured, made people feel the urge to worship.
The people in the command center could see that the charging monsters, including those not yet charging, all ran backwards.
They seemed to be suffering intense burning pain, screaming in agony as they scattered in all directions.
The seemingly ordinary light turned out to be poison for them.
But even more grand and spectacular power burst forth from York.
Brilliant, dazzling, yet not blinding white light washed over everything like a surging wave, instantly sweeping across the field.
On the main screen, everyone could see the ripple-like energy sweeping across the area.
Many monsters and spirits turned silently into fragments as the ripple passed over them, vanishing into ash without leaving any trace.
The entire space, with waves of ripples like a deluge, purified everything, leaving nothing behind.
"Eh."
As this surprised remark sounded, the main screen began to rotate, caught and steadied by a flawlessly white hand.
Then, the camera shifted to a corner.
People only then understood why the powerful professor had made a surprised sound.
In a distant, clean clearing,
There stood a figure engulfed in flames, seemingly burnt, motionless.
Tall, clad in a black robe, his distinctly featured face pierced with various blades, his hands crossed in front of him, holding a floating spherical orb.
Behind him, two trails of dissipating ashes slowly fell and vanished.
Settersen and Hadley exchanged glances, knowing who this person was.
In the segregated prison, a ranking system decided the intensity of the sacrificial ceremonies, and after figuring out the tastes of the ancient gods, they could set the intensity of the offerings accordingly, placing corresponding items like triggered books or other objects.
And this person, appearing very human, was undoubtedly in the top tier.
Like the previously mentioned black-robed witch, he possessed great power, able to make nearby cages shift away from him.
Settersen opened his mouth to say the creature's name, but before he could, another announcement from the loudspeakers interrupted.
"Hell Lord?"
York held the camera, staring at the legendary figure from his past life, and smiled.
"The power you wield feels very familiar to me."
The Hell Lord, engulfed in flames, showed no expression but kept his gaze fixed on York.
The holy power that had just erupted had consumed most of the dark power within him.
The remaining dark power also continued to diminish.
"I remember now."
Hearing this, the Hell Lord glanced at York, a fleeting ring of red and gold appearing in his pupils, and finally, a hint of emotion crossed his face.
"Seems like it's Leviathan's power?"
After saying this, York shook his head at the increasingly blazing Hell Lord and continued walking towards the forest cabin.
Even if Leviathan himself were present, he wouldn't be afraid, let alone a mere byproduct influenced by Him.
After all, Leviathan was only one of the creatures created by God on the sixth day, originally intended to be food for the righteous at the end of the world.
Known as one of the seven rulers of Hell, he was powerful, but anything involving God was not to be feared by York.
Because now, he began to contemplate his own situation.
Without overthinking, he was sure he had some deep connection with God.
Because that otherworld seemed like a world God had deliberately arranged for him, providing him with the basic strength to traverse different worlds.
He didn't yet know what the relationship was, but York felt he would eventually learn everything, understand his connection with God...
So, under this premise, he was inflated; perhaps after his death, the truth might emerge.
Thinking messily, York let go of the camera, controlling it with telekinesis.
Unfortunately, the specter had also vanished in the previous strike.
He could only continue controlling the camera with telekinesis, providing a multi-angle live broadcast for those in the basement.
As he walked, the Hell Lord still made no move, merely nodding slightly as York passed, then vanishing into ash.
York squinted his eyes habitually and continued walking, unobstructed, quickly reaching the cabin from a past-life movie in the forest.
The cabin sat in a broad clearing, its roof covered with fallen leaves.
Light filtering through the gaps in the dense foliage above cast onto the cabin, beautifying it as if it were a live oil painting.
"No wonder Kurt's cousin was guided by the administrative bureau to buy this cabin," York chuckled, the camera automatically shifting in front of him.
York stared into the camera
: "I know you're watching. Do you want me to force you out, or will you continue?
Think it over; I'll give you five minutes. Force or continue, it's your choice."
As his words fell, echoing through the command center below, York's upper body was reflected on the main screen.
Settersen exhaled lightly, looking at Hadley.
At that moment, Hadley also looked over.
Behind them, the eyes of all the staff were watching.
The two exchanged glances, then quickly looked away.
At that moment, the image of a female staff member appeared on a side screen.
Her expression was somewhat panicked.
"Report, Chief Hadley, there's an urgent matter I need to report to you..."
As Settersen and Hadley had just agreed on something, Hadley was drawn to the side screen by her words.
He specifically pressed the button on his microphone to prevent the other staff from hearing.
"What's the matter."
At this point, whatever urgent matter it was seemed irrelevant.
"The ritual in Japan has failed!"
Hearing this, Hadley ignored the rest of her words, watching the screen slide away to show a group of adorable Japanese elementary students surrounding a floating, howling spirit, dispersing the fierce spirit with their innocent singing and love.
"Heh."
Watching this starkly contrasting video, Hadley chuckled bitterly:
"It seems we have no choice."
He looked at Settersen, who was turning his gaze in this direction, pressed a key on the keyboard, and sent the video to Settersen's console.
After watching, Settersen similarly showed a bitter smile and looked at the young professor who had entered the cabin and was now observing.
"Shall we go greet him?"
With the word "greet," Settersen already placed himself and the administrative bureau in a subordinate position.
Hadley did not object but simply nodded.
"Alright!"
And at that moment, a section of the wall automatically split open, and York, somewhat lazily, pinched his thumb and forefinger together and flicked lightly.
Using his own strength, he created a wind pressure akin to a bullet.
Bang!
The position acting as a camera instantly exploded, sending shards and sparks flying.
One after another, his flicks destroyed multiple cameras.
York thus passed the time, waiting for Hadley and Settersen, who had already appeared on the 3D map, leading a group of people up the elevator.
It wasn't long.
When York, carrying a shoulder bag, stepped out of the cabin, he saw Settersen and Hadley in front, with the others standing behind them.
"Hold on."
Seeing Hadley, who clearly held the most authority and was a step behind, York's smile brightened, his only words:
"The so-called ancient gods have awakened."
The moment the administrative bureau came to meet him, he seemed to have gained the right to speak.
As the people from the administrative bureau clearly began to panic, York used his psychic sense to look downward through the sense of danger.
"Roar! Roar! Roar..."
A deep roar sounded, and the sky dramatically changed, covered by dark clouds that appeared out of nowhere.
As the light began to dim,
The entire world seemed to plunge into darkness.
Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the sky, the roar containing boundless rage.
The earth trembled under this roaring sound, crack after crack appearing, spreading like the abyss.
It seemed something enormous was escaping from beneath the earth, releasing its boundless fury.
In York's eyes, a giant covered in molten magma patterns rose from a colossal lava throne, staring at him, the fury in his eyes seemingly ready to burn him and the entire world to ashes.
In this moment, distance and space were no longer barriers or obstacles, their gazes piercing through endless boundaries, meeting from afar.
"What? You don't agree with my negotiation terms?"
Ignoring the giant's earth-shattering presence, ignoring the fury in the giant's eyes, York smiled faintly.
Happy New Year!
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