NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52:
Chapter 52: The Answer Is No:
What is a god?
A power that transcends all things.
A being who controls the world.
Indescribably sublime.
God said, “Let there be light.”
In a world shrouded in darkness, only the blazing white light remained. Everything rose and fell within its radiance—warm, yet searing.
Thunder rolled through the clouds. The sun blazed in the sky. The boundless earth shook, water vapor rose, and storms howled.
All was swallowed by pure light.
…
Three days later.
Xu Xi and Krisha arrived at a new city called Wage, chosen as their new settlement.
In their newly purchased house, Krisha meticulously examined each room, checking for missing furniture and noting what still needed to be purchased. Meanwhile, Xu Xi sat in a soft chair in the living room, lost in thought about the “divine punishment” he had witnessed three days earlier.
“Incredible,” he murmured.
“Truly worthy of being called a god. They accomplished such an overwhelming feat so effortlessly—annihilating the monsters in Allenson City in one blow while simultaneously protecting the surviving soldiers.”
He shook his head, still amazed.
“The terrain around Allenson has practically reshaped itself. How much power did it take? Ten percent? No… not even one percent.”
Closing his eyes, Xu Xi tightened his grip on his nearly shattered wand.
That day, though the god’s main attack targeted the monsters, the resulting shockwave had been so immense that even from a great distance, Xu Xi had to exhaust all his resources to protect himself and Krisha.
Dozens of Level 7 spells were unleashed in rapid succession just to offset the aftermath of the light’s descent.
Though dangerous, the experience had been enlightening. Witnessing the arrival of a god and the soldiers’ blind fanaticism made Xu Xi understand the truth behind the events.
…
“Extra! Extra!”
Outside, newsboys shouted as they ran down the streets, their voices full of excitement.
“Allenson City in the north was invaded by monsters! Large legions were defeated, and the city was nearly destroyed!”
“The great God of Light descended and saved the survivors!”
“Extra! Extra!”
The grace of the God of Light has been bestowed!”
Crowds of passersby eagerly purchased newspapers, poring over the details. Some wore solemn expressions as they read about the invasion of Allenson City and the legion’s defeat.
But as they read of the God of Light descending to save the survivors, their faces lit up with reverence.
“Praise the great God of Light, the Lord of Infinite Brilliance. May the light endure forever, protecting the weak even unto death!”
“Thank you for saving us once again!”
Believers of the God of Light sang praises in the streets, their voices swelling with emotion.
Passersby paused to sigh and pray, their expressions growing increasingly devout.
Some even burst into tears of gratitude, and even non-believers were swept up in the fervent atmosphere, murmuring quiet thanks to the gods.
All of this, Xu Xi observed from the window.
He understood the gods’ plans perfectly.
“They orchestrated this entire scenario,” he mused.
“They created the monster invasion, allowing human legions to fall, making the situation appear dire and hopeless.”
“And then, at the critical moment, the gods intervened—not only harvesting faith but also solidifying humanity’s awe and dependence on them.”
Xu Xi sighed deeply. “A cruel method.”
The gods’ psychological control over humans was chillingly precise.
They knew that if humanity grew too comfortable, belief in the gods would wane.
Thus, the gods manufactured danger and chaos, presenting themselves as saviors at humanity’s most desperate hour. This ensured the continuous harvesting of faith and reinforced the devotion of believers.
It was an undeniably effective tactic.
From his point of view, Xu Xi saw countless people flocking to join the Church of God, eager to draw closer to divine power and become faith-driven magicians.
“Perhaps,” he muttered, “that was their intention all along.”
He tapped the armrest of his chair, the sound echoing softly.
Faith mages and elemental mages could both wield magic, but their paths were fundamentally different.
A faith mage’s power stemmed from their deity. The mage could only access the power granted to them, meaning the peak of their potential was limited to the level of a demigod.
Dependents could never surpass their masters.
But elemental mages walked a separate path, one of observing the world and uncovering its truths. Through their own understanding, they could ignite divine fire and wield the authority of creation itself.
The gods, unwilling to face new challengers, subtly promoted the faith mage’s path while gradually suppressing elemental mages, ensuring their supremacy remained unthreatened.
“If that’s truly their strategy, I’ll need to tread carefully,” Xu Xi muttered.
He felt certain that his growing strength as an elemental mage would eventually attract the gods’ attention.
The thought of facing dozens, perhaps hundreds, of true gods made him shudder.
“The gods love the world? No… they love themselves.”
Standing slowly, Xu Xi stretched and glanced out the window at the bustling streets filled with fervent believers.
He shook his head.
Such deceptions—carefully crafted lies—weren’t entirely malevolent. Faith provided people with power, and for the vast majority who couldn’t take the path of elemental magic, divine favor offered a chance at greatness.
The cost, however, was fear. Fear of becoming the next sacrifice for a “miracle.”
In Allenson City, nearly a million citizens and soldiers had perished. A staggering, tragic number.
…
The soft hiss of steam broke his thoughts.
Mist filled the room as Krisha activated the new home’s steam equipment.
“Master, everything is set up. There are no issues,” Krisha reported calmly.
“Thank you, Krisha.”
Xu Xi looked at her, his eyes lingering on her long silver-gray hair and those enigmatic eyes. As before, the only thing he saw reflected in them was his own figure.
“Let’s go,” he said. “I’ll cook tonight.”
Krisha blinked in surprise but nodded, following him obediently.
The house, the city, and the people around them were unfamiliar, but the familiar figure before her gave her courage.
As she followed Xu Xi to the kitchen, she heard the distant cries of believers singing praises to the gods.
She ignored them.
To her, only one “god” mattered—the one standing right in front of her.