Super Righteous Player
Chapter 925 - 459 Great Calamity Curio: Hei Ma Men Ni (Two-in-One)_2

Chapter 925: Chapter 459 Great Calamity Curio: Hei Ma Men Ni (Two-in-One)_2

"——This is love."

Sophocles was so certain, his voice deep and low.

He raised the booklet in one hand, reciting passionately as if absorbed in it, his magnetic and quivering voice made him sound like a poet: "I sing only for my own ears, I only listen to the songs that joy me. My tongue speaks only strong and forceful words for myself. My hands scrawl and labor only for myself, my feet run wild like those of a wild horse, galloping through the fields at my own will——

"But only my eyes——my eyes do not belong to me.

"What I see, is not my own world but the light in everyone’s eyes...

"Therefore, I declare! I am not man, nor am I light, I am he who peers into the light, the one who beholds the Celestial Chariot!"

——That was a verse from the "Odes to the Celestial Chariot."

Sophocles’s right hand left Vladimir’s shoulder.

"Celestial Chariot——"

He bowed deeply to Annan, performing a respectful salute: "I praise the Celestial Chariot."

But because the gesture was too respectful, it seemed rather eerie.

It was then that Vladimir finally lifted his head, his gaze deep into Sophocles.

Sophocles’s sudden appearance clearly wasn’t within his control.

Even though Annan was still within his grasp... Vladimir had already faintly sensed that something was amiss.

——Should he just attack by surprise, killing Annan first?

Such a thought popped into his mind.

But he immediately discarded the idea.

No, that wouldn’t do.

It was impossible that Sophocles had appeared here just to watch the show up close.

Indeed, he could attack Annan unawares—after all, Annan was merely a powerful silver-tier Transcendent. But to strike Annan without Sophocles noticing was impossible.

For Sophocles was the god of murder himself.

Before understanding what Sophocles’s abrupt presence here meant... Vladimir did not intend to act rashly.

He believed that Annan surely hadn’t anticipated that Sophocles would suddenly come and muddy the waters. At this moment, they were equal, on the same footing.

Although he didn’t know what Sophocles was here for.

But Annan understood Sophocles somewhat better than Vladimir did.

——The possibility of Sophocles coming here just to watch the drama unfold, was indeed plausible... And completely likely.

Although Annan didn’t want to admit it, he was now indeed half the Pope to the playwright of tragedy.

And if one were to infer from the outcome.

Since the playwright believed there would be a drama to watch...

The corners of Annan’s mouth lifted slightly.

He was now reassured.

"——Besides, Vladimir."

Annan shifted his gaze from Sophocles and looked back at Vladimir, declaring softly: "You have overlooked one thing.

"I answered a question of yours earlier. You asked me why it wasn’t you whose fate I had changed? I said...

"——Because you betrayed me."

His voice grew louder: "And this——"

"Is your sin."

A clear and gentle voice rang out behind Annan.

A barefooted girl with only her left foot shackled in broken fetters appeared silently behind Annan.

She wore a simple light white skirt, her right leg in a boot, adorned with pure white stockings, her arms covered in white gloves. A silver princess crown that resembled a thorn rested on her head, her left eye tightly shut, while her right eye was as gentle as gemstone green.

She held a thick tome with both hands, her expression serious.

"I am watching."

She proclaimed: "I have been watching you, traitor.

"In my presence, you shall not harm Annan in the slightest."

——The god of defiance, the Absolver.

The judge of all who betray purity and Justice, the leader who guides the rejection of dark and fallen paths.

The deity personally saved by Annan.

A barren and withered world, and a verdant, vibrant world, with Annan and Vladimir in the middle as the dividing line, mirrored each other symmetrically.

Both holding a staff or scepter, emanating light or dark mist, Annan and Vladimir stared at each other.

Behind them, the Absolver and the playwright, holding or pinching a book, serious or smiling faces.

As if the world was split in two.

A miraculous mirror image.

"...A new god you created."

Vladimir took a deep breath, his expression growing heavier: "I indeed overlooked her.

"Or rather, this world had no existence of her until my plan was almost complete."

Not to mention when he betrayed them in the past.

Because it had been too long, and because he was too self-righteous,

he had actually forgotten... that he was once a traitor.

Or rather, that he once had a past where he served others.

"The existence of gods transcends the first layer of history."

Annan said calmly and gently, "Thus, one could say—this is your fate. The moment you chose to be a traitor, everything was destined.

"Your failure, it began at the very start—the moment you first thought to rebel against fate."

"What are you talking about?"

Vladimir interrupted Annan, "I have not failed yet, Your Majesty."

"Do you hope that Sophocles will fight on your behalf?"

Annan’s lips curved into a slight smile, "The judgment that befalls a traitor in the end is right before your eyes. Or perhaps... do you wish to renounce darkness for light?

"Can you afford it, though? Can you pay the price to cleanse all your sins?"

In the face of a sinner, the authority of a god who stands against rebellion is absolute.

The Divine Ability to discover, stop, and punish a traitor... ensured that Vladimir, the traitor himself, could not escape.

Annan was the one he had betrayed.

Everything seemed as if it were fated.

Or rather, it was because of Annan’s existence that there was such a "fate."

"Of course not."

Vladimir took a deep breath, "I would not be so foolish as to stake my hopes on others. Since I have prepared everything and hold the initiative... obviously, I have prepared another path too.

"—It’s not a path of happiness. Nor will it have a good outcome, but even so...

"...at least, even if gods stand before me, they can’t stop me."

As he spoke, he slightly turned his right hand as though he was holding something.

The Absolver was a very young new god.

She had been born less than two months ago and was ignorant of many things.

But she also instinctively sensed something ominous—

[Judgment]

She opened her mouth and spoke the words.

[The Sentence of Decapitation]

That was not any worldly language; it wasn’t even certain if a sound had been made.

It was the highest grade of "Decree."

A command to the entire world.

There was no flash of blades, nor could any attack be seen.

Suddenly, Vladimir’s head rolled off his body.

Without a doubt, he was dead.

The Absolver’s judgment was absolute.

When she chose no longer to absolve, when words of forgiveness were silent and unuttered,

the lifeforce of the traitor would be extinguished in an instant.

—But.

Vladimir’s eyes did not close.

It was not the look of one dying with lingering regrets.

His mouth was still speaking,

"I also considered, having obtained it... whether it meant that in the countless fates to come, there would be a day I would use it. It seems indeed so, now that I think about it.

"Just like the hunt rifle that appears at the beginning of an opera, it must be fired at the curtain fall. And now, I have no path of return.

"If this is my fate—then let me at least shatter the Celestial Chariot."

His head, now lying on the ground, continued to narrate thus.

"Even death cannot stop him, huh..."

Annan murmured.

Vladimir said calmly, "That’s right.

"The power of a Great Calamity Curio is, in some respects, above that of gods. It cannot be used to combat gods, nor can it grant its holder the power to overcome gods.

"—But as long as I hold it, I absolutely cannot be killed by gods. Because the existence of Great Calamity Curio is, in itself, an oversight of divine authority... The third Siren is so, the Smog Mirror is so, and it is so."

Saying so, he raised his right hand.

A black cube was rotating.

"This is my Great Calamity Curio... Black Mammoni."

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