Chapter 566: Hell is Other People
Blania, wearing a moon-white robe, flew out from the magical battleship. She looked at the crowd of wizards entering the World of Qi like a swarm of locusts and suddenly sighed.
“My dear, why are you sighing? We won this battle of worlds.”
Thales suddenly flashed to Blania’s side and put his arm around her.
Blania slowly leaned against Thales’s arm, her voice low: “I feel a bit tired. Why did we have to go to war with the World of Qi? This so-called world of Battle Qi actually had no dispute with us. To initiate an invasion just to obtain resources—I don’t think it’s right.”
Thales hugged Blania tightly and said steadily:
“During the high-level meeting, which you weren’t present for, Lord Ace once told this story. Wizards come from the Kaya World, and during the Kaya World’s growth process, it encountered several worlds. Not a single time was peaceful. It’s just that the Kaya World was very lucky and won every time.
“And this time, the Kaya World was invaded by the Giant Tree World falling from an upper layer. The Giant Tree World still perished, but the war was still initiated.”
Blania was still somewhat puzzled. She just felt very tired doing this and whispered: “Why can’t we try to make contact with goodwill?”
Thales recalled Ace’s speech during the last Supreme Meeting.
“The Astral Plane is a dark forest. Every civilized world is a hunter stalking through the trees like a ghost, gently pushing aside branches that block the path and trying his best not to let his footsteps make a sound. Even breathing is done with care.
“The hunter has to be careful, because everywhere in the forest are stealthy hunters like him. If he finds other life, there’s only one thing he can do: eliminate it.
“In this forest, hell is other people. An eternal threat. Any life that exposes its own existence will swiftly be wiped out. This is the picture of the Astral Plane.”
Blania still asked, puzzled: “What if a certain world harbors goodwill? For example, the World of Qi—there was no evidence to prove it harbored malice.”
Thales once again recalled Ace’s words. He, too, had questioned just like Blania, but ultimately, Thales was convinced by Ace’s logic.
“Hell is other people. According to our wizards’ current research theories, we should be able to make these two foundational axioms: First, survival is the primary need of a world. Second, resources in the Astral Plane are not infinite; their total amount is likely fixed.”
Blania nodded. This wasn’t hard to understand. If a world, or the civilization within a world, didn’t even want to survive, it would naturally be destroyed. As for resources, this was an analogy. The resources of a world are limited; it must absorb resources from the Astral Plane to develop. Thus, the resources of the Astral Plane are likely also limited.
Thales’s gaze looked towards the pitch-black Astral Void, then looked at the wizards tearing apart the World of Qi. With endless loneliness in his eyes, he said softly: “Lord Ace proposed an irrefutable logic: the Chain of Suspicion!”
Blania slowly repeated this coined term: “Chain of Suspicion? A chain of doubts?”
Thales nodded. He and Blania sat casually on the battleship. The entire battleship was streamlined and gleamed with a metallic luster. It was the proud masterpiece of Her Holiness Betty, the Rotating Celestial.
Among its armaments, that terrifying super electromagnetic railgun was created precisely based on Thales and Blania’s theories. When they first researched electromagnetic theory, they had never thought they would unleash such a terrifying weapon of mass destruction.
The two simply leaned against the metal groove of the battleship like this. Blania looked at Thales with tenderness and worry.
“The so-called Chain of Suspicion is exactly what you said: a chain of doubts, or a chain reaction of suspicion. This is built on the premise that any supernatural civilized world cannot judge whether the other party is a benevolent civilized world.”
Blania frowned in thought, and finally said slowly:
“As far as foreseeable situations go, we indeed couldn’t judge whether this Battle Qi civilization would initially be benevolent or malicious. And our invasion has already exposed the coordinates of the Kaya World. It’s just that the Kaya World is too great, and the opponent is like ants in comparison, so they dare not act rashly.”
Thales stroked Blania’s head and said gently: “This is also a point Lord Ace raised. Any communication means the exposure of coordinates. If we hadn’t used Kaya as a springboard, the opponent definitely would have discovered the Wizard World long ago, and perhaps things would be completely different.
“Benevolence and malice between civilizations. Using words like good and evil in logic is not rigorous, so we need to limit their meanings: Benevolence means not actively attacking and eliminating other civilized worlds; malice is the opposite. This is the lowest level of benevolence, right?”
Blania nodded. Her expression was somewhat mournful, seemingly lamenting the fate of these civilized worlds.
Thales, like a rapid-fire cannon, stated Ace’s judgment:
“One civilization cannot judge whether another civilization is benevolent or malicious.
“One civilization cannot judge whether another civilization considers itself to be benevolent or malicious.
“One civilization cannot judge whether another civilization will launch an attack on it.
“One civilization cannot judge whether another civilization is benevolent or malicious towards it.
“One civilization cannot judge whether another civilization judges itself to be benevolent or malicious towards it…
“…”
Thales stood up, hovered in the void, and looked at Blania, saying with an almost helpless voice: “We live in this Astral Void. The Astral Plane is layered. Worlds that were powerful in the past will ascend to higher layers, but they can still descend. This is how the Wizard World was born. We cannot judge, and neither can the opponent.”
Blania understood all this, but she still doubted: “If the other world is exceptionally powerful, and our world is like ants to them, there shouldn’t be a need to bicker with ants. Some might crush the ants, but some might let the ants go, right?”
Thales nodded, then shook his head:
“Indeed, some might let them go, but others might crush the hidden danger. Communication means exposure. Is it possible for the ants to expose your coordinates? Our Wizard World can move quickly, but could the opponent expand their search range? Super supernatural civilizations might have methods we cannot comprehend.
“Moreover, how can you be so certain that ants won’t learn?”
He slowly approached Blania and said in a deep voice: “You must know, we are not wizards who descended from Kaya. Why were we able to achieve a leap in an extremely short time? Knowledge will spread. Just like once magic spreads, there might be a situation where latecomers overtake the Firelinker. At that time, who controls fate?”
Blania felt as if struck by lightning, and said slowly: “Letting you know of my existence, and letting you continue to exist, are both dangerous to me. In the Astral Void, hell is other people!”
They looked around and suddenly felt that this pitch-black Astral Plane was not as charming as usual. Instead, it was like a monster choosing people to devour, making one shudder. Perhaps encounter is the most terrifying beginning, no matter who raises their weapon first.
In this encounter, the High Tower Wizards used the high level of Kaya to confuse the opponent, ultimately achieving the victory of the entire world. But next time, will they still be so lucky?
The Wizard World Cluster halted its steps. No matter what, they won this time, and they should properly enjoy the fruits of victory.
…
A century passed in the blink of an eye.
The World of Qi had become a thing of the past. The world’s essence was absorbed by the Dream Great Source. The fragments and space of the Qi Continent merged into the interior of the Wizard World, greatly expanding the galaxy structure of the Wizard World.
Ace also walked out of his demi-plane. He had already achieved the trinity (four-in-one) and consolidated the limit of a Demigod. He could not break through here, because that would only result in personal ascension. And when a True God ascends to the upper layer, it is still the endless void.
It would be better to return to the Kaya World through a stable channel, complete the Path of Dream there, and then plan for advancement.
Ace did not return to the Celestial Realm. The entire Wizard World Cluster itself was a powerful and conscious war machine. Ace had already set this world on the right track. His deep gaze looked towards the endless, pitch-black Astral Void.
“I raised my weapon first, and I achieved victory first. If I hadn’t raised my weapon, would the opponent have attacked? Everything is unknown. Some might think this is cruel, but goodwill towards the unknown might be the greatest cruelty to oneself.
“Just like in my previous life, every time humanity ventured out and made geographical discoveries, it brought extinction. Even in the ignorant primitive era, why were Neanderthals exterminated by the later-arising Homo sapiens? In the encounter of civilizations and intelligence, the other is the true hell. It’s just that this time I planned meticulously and played the role of hell.
“If the World of Qi had discovered us first, what preparations would they have made? Enthusiastic and friendly contact?”
Ace’s figure gradually faded, and His Dream Realm disappeared along with him. Through that stable channel, passing through layers of astral membranes, He arrived at the Kaya World.
Pattering rain was beating against the buildings. Ace stood on the West Tower of the Magic Castle, quietly experiencing the baptism of nature.
The entire City-State of Thoth was quiet. The rhythm and environment here remained the same. Although a great war erupted in the world, because the lock on the inner side hadn’t been broken temporarily, Ace had experienced over a century in the lower layers of the Astral Plane, while only a little over half a year had passed in Salia.
Although there were their respective contests of strength, the changes inside the entire world were not drastic. In fact, this was a rare invasion. The opponent’s “boat” was broken, and they wanted to board Kaya’s boat and overthrow the rulers on the “boat.”
“If we look at it from the perspective of astral sociology, the encounter between the Giant Tree World and the Kaya World was doomed the moment the Giant Tree World fell. Even the fall of the Giant Tree World can indirectly prove ‘Hell is other people.’
“The ecology of the Astral Plane has no fairy tales, nor is there such a thing as contacting with goodwill. Every contact means the destruction of one party. If a world wants to survive long-term in the Astral Plane, it should attempt to hide itself and eliminate the other party at the minimum cost.”
Ace walked in the rain, softly voicing his judgment. In such a pitch-black Astral Void, goodwill can only exist inside a world, inside a group. Upon reaching the Astral Void, anyone will become a beast. If one doesn’t become a beast, they will be devoured by beasts in the Chain of Suspicion.
Ace walked into the temple of the God of Arithmetic, Thoth, directly facing its patron, the True God Thoth.
Thoth’s idol flickered with milky-white light. Shortly after, a handsome man with a body like a sculpture, wearing a loose white robe, walked out.
“Ace, I should address you as His Holiness Ace. You appeared last time, but quickly disappeared. To think you’ve become a Demigod so quickly!”
Thoth’s eyes carried a strange brilliance. He had already seen through Ace’s state—the limit state of a Demi-god.
“In this state of yours, you have clearly reached the limit of a Demigod, yet you conspicuously lack a Divine Foundation. Is this the unique path of a wizard? Or do you still want to take the Path of Dream?”
Ace nodded and said: “I indeed want to take the Path of Dream.”
Thoth frowned and said: “You told me the truth. The Mother Goddess once said that if you told the truth and were wholeheartedly set on taking the domain of dreams, you could be allowed to act, but you must spare the lives of the Three Sons of Dream.
“For my part, I don’t support you taking this path. You are a wizard; it’s not impossible for you to become the God of Wizards and walk the path of wizards. That brilliant starry sky of yours has immense potential.”
Ace didn’t explain much. He had already reached the limit of a Demigod. If not to perfect his path, Ace could absolutely advance directly, whether on the Path of Domain or the Path of Law.
Thoth also treated Ace as an existence with whom he could converse as equals. After offering his suggestion, he said no more. Instead, he learned the knowledge of wizards in detail and requested some results.
In return, Thoth informed Ace of the recent situations of the Three Sons of Dream and the God of Sleep, along with the situation of the entire Kaya World.
The Outer Gods, the Rebel Gods, and the Kaya Gods were still in a three-way standoff. The devils seemed to be trying to please all sides, wavering uncertainly. As for the demons, their chaos doomed them to be unable to play a defined role, only to be utilized and driven by the various factions.
But demons are chaotic. Utilizing demons means one could suffer a chaotic backlash at any time.
The two worlds had gradually merged. The Great Source also seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber. God King Kronos still retained some God King privileges. Shortly after his body recovered, he attacked the Rebel Gods and Outer Gods.
But at a critical moment, Kronos’s older sister, God Queen Linas, actually backstabbed him and joined the camp of the Rebel Gods and Outer Gods.
Kronos was severely injured and hid within the Kaya Divine Mountain. The Lady of the Night, the Bright Moon Goddess Artemis, began to preside over the overall situation, and concluded an armistice agreement with the God Queen, the King of the Underworld, and Orlas, the biological son of the World Tree. The world fell into a brief period of peace for a time.
After understanding all this, Ace straightforwardly shared the theoretical knowledge of wizards with Thoth. He had already seen that Thoth was experimenting with the Path of Wizards. Perhaps in the future, Thoth could also become a Level 5 Wizard; this was not a bad thing.
“The God Queen has already changed her title, calling herself the Goddess of Life and the Guardian of the World Tree. Indeed, a mere degraded seed could spawn an Elf Realm in a Level 2 World, let alone the World Tree tender branch that penetrated deep into the Great Source. Perhaps She felt this calling and opportunity from life.”
Ace slowly detached from the inner side of the world, recalling the emerald secret realms one after another in the Reflection World. That was perhaps Linas’s major opportunity.
(This chapter is finished)
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