Super Righteous Player-Chapter 1214 - 252: The Mission of God

"What you’re saying," Annan said with a wry smile, "makes me somewhat nervous."

Whether it’s the Grey Craftsman or Silver Baron, or even Yawen and Mr. Radiance... these ancient gods all have incredible faith in Annan.

It’s as if the return of the Charioteer heralds a future where the world on the brink of destruction could be changed...

That’s not entirely incomprehensible.

Let’s not even count The Worm, this "theoretically only Charioteer could kill" enemy—Annan himself isn’t even sure of it.

The other formidable enemy the Mist Realm faces is the now completely shattered Void World.

As the Void World collapses progressively, the "demons" from the Void World will inevitably fall into this world.

This is neither an invasion nor summoning, but a natural descent to this layer after the complete collapse of their own world...

It also means that they can never return to their original world.

Because their world has been thoroughly destroyed.

These resentful spirits that have wandered the shattered Void World for thousands of years are already thoroughly twisted by curses. Their only remaining wish is for revenge—to make the Mist Realm pay for their actions thousands of years ago at any cost.

Since the Void World is destroyed, the majority of these "demons" lack physical form. They are a carrier of a "force"... in a way, somewhat similar to a weakened Truth Rank.

"Anyone who harbors dissatisfaction and hatred towards this world will attract these lonely souls from the Void World."

The Grey Craftsman sighed, "Even if I want to believe in humanity... I have to admit, compared to the Saints whose conduct is approved by the holy relics, in any era, those who resent the world and are dissatisfied with it are surely more numerous.

"And those whose minds are intruded by demons will gain formidable power. They may seek immediate revenge on the world, or hide themselves well... But the moment they are targeted by the demons, they will not repent.

"Because a hatred far deeper than their own loathing and resentments will utterly corrupt their soul. And hatred, just like love, can be passed on... With their evil deeds, the world will become increasingly darker and devoid of light.

"Based on predictions by Haoyun, starting from the large-scale emergence of demons from the Void World, we must stop the Chrono-Law ritual in at most two hundred years and begin direct intervention in this world, otherwise social order will completely collapse."

The Grey Craftsman spoke earnestly, "And this year is the first year of the ’large-scale emergence’ of demons from the Void World."

Although thousands of years ago, the heart of the Void World had already been taken by the Promethean.

But the absence of the World’s Heart didn’t immediately lead to the collapse and destruction of the Void World. Instead, the entire world began to warp and twist at a rapid rate and eventually crumble bit by bit.

Just as drawing too much Blood of the World forms the Mist.

After the World’s Heart is taken, the true "end of the world" will come.

Laws will be twisted, common sense completely upturned—

The temperature difference between day and night will increase by several degrees each day, sea levels will rise at a visibly rapid rate, typhoons will not fade after making landfall but intensify by the day, and earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions will happen incessantly...

Those who have already died will resurrect, dragging their putrid flesh; all those who barely survive will go mad... or flesh will merge with inorganic matter, forming grotesque monsters.

After that, the world will start to fracture into countless pieces.

It’s not as simple as land cracking. It’s a chaotic shattering of space and time... like cells dividing over time or a car window being smashed into smaller and smaller pieces by hammer blows.

A surviving monster might turn a corner and arrive in a time and place two thousand years in the past; then, as it walks down the street, it inexplicably falls into a "future" five hundred years prior.

Then, it’s not just about "monsters merged from flesh and inorganic matter."

The hatred, loathing, and malevolent thoughts from the destruction of the entire world will merge together, with various decayed and rotten substances forming a nightmare amalgamation of monsters.

Later... even these merged and twisted bodies are dissolved by the world, leaving only undying resentful spirits.

And now, even the broken spaces housing these resentful spirits, akin to witch’s barriers, are about to be completely erased.

These fragments of space fall like meteor showers into the Mist Realm.

These malicious thoughts will inevitably contaminate this world—because evil, too, can be transmitted, and it’s much easier to transmit than good.

"The reason I am committed to eradicating despair, pain, and hatred from this world... is also a form of training. I am training my ability to alleviate and digest malevolence,"

The Grey Craftsman answered sincerely, "Back then, I didn’t know that the Charioteer would return to this world.

"In my view at that time, the only ones willing and capable of bearing this malevolence, which would be a hundred times worse than during the bloody battles when demons invade, were probably only me, the Promethean, and Mr. Radiance. In order to bear the future malice, I had to forge a sufficiently resilient spirit."

"As the god who controls Despair, I must not fall before the other deities."

"I see..."

Annan slowly nodded.

He finally understood why the Grey Craftsman would suddenly undertake such a deed, bearing "all the evil of this world," and why he did so for hundreds of years.

"So, your visit... what specifically is it for?"

Annan smiled, "It can’t be that you came all this way just to explain this to me, right?"

"One part of my purpose here is to offer you an apology. Although he is not me, the troubles he caused you are somewhat related to me. Just like when a child causes a mess... the parent needs to come out and apologize."

The silver-haired youth spoke soothingly, "There isn’t much else I can do, so I can only start by imparting the knowledge about ’holy relic transplantation’ to you. Later, if you need help... and if you trust me, you can also come to me."

"I can assist you with the transplantation of holy relics."

"Actually, he didn’t really cause me any trouble."

Annan said honestly, "Because he didn’t succeed, but I appreciate your kind offer. I will definitely come when the time arrives..."

He paused mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something.

"...Come? You mean...?"

"Just come directly to the Grey Tower," said the Grey Craftsman softly, revealing his second purpose for coming here.

As he spoke, his figure suddenly grew taller and aged.

In the blink of an eye, he transformed into the appearance of Professor Grey.

"If ’Professor Grey’ leaves, then the children here will genuinely have no future."

"Professor Grey" said gravely, "Tricino did ’educate’ his students, giving them the power to change their destinies... but at the same time, he stole their dreams, and the other possibilities of their lives.

"Such conduct is utterly unworthy of the title ’professor.’ It is an insult to the past Professor Chiron.

"While imparting knowledge to others, one should also teach these children how to be human. To guide their dreams, as well as help them navigate the hurdles of reality..."

The gaze of "Professor Grey" was resolute and steady, "Since ’Professor Grey’ has given them hope to change their fate... then the step to fulfill their wishes, I will take upon myself.

"Those two goddesses, despite being disgusted with their ignorance and corruption, had arranged everything for them upon their departure.

"I don’t possess such powerful strength; I can’t create as many objects to improve their lives... but my advantage is that I have enough patience.

"This is the patience I have honed from bearing hundreds of years of malicious thoughts—if the Charioteer returns, your Angel Envoys can easily deal with these demons, and the abilities I’ve trained will not go to waste.

"I will no longer leave the Grey Tower. Next, I will transform this fallen, enclosed, and sinful Underworld through educational means. Generation after generation... turning them civilized, educating them to respect laws, rules, and to respect the lives of others—especially those of the weak."

"Though this can’t make up for the children who have already strayed off course, it’s far more responsible than just abandoning the Grey Tower, to never return. In that manner, only one error would be corrected, but no problem would be solved."

"...But, you are a deity!"

A goblet from Naifertali exclaimed in shock, "Just like that, to abandon your church..."

"God—so what?"

The Grey Craftsman retorted, "After all, what is a ’god’? That’s just what the people of Aesirland call us... You worship us, hold us in awe, but this does not change our conduct.

"We are not wooden or clay idols seated on high in holy temples; from the very beginning, we have lived among the world of mortals. Rather than ’deities,’ I would prefer to be called ’lord,’ ’pillar of life’... and I’d rather think of myself as the ’eldest sibling.’

"Whether it’s me, the Charioteer, Yawen, the Goddess of Cup, the Mystical Lady, and so on. We are the eldest siblings of this world, the first-borns, your seniors, and most importantly, your elder brethren. Respecting the elder sibling, the first-comers, the seniors is the very least of ’Traditions’, but such worship is not really necessary.

"Because we are not rulers or exploiters. From the very beginning, we have belonged to the forces of guardianship... to ’protect the existence of the world we recognize’ through our own means.

"—Life is short. It is tiring enough for people to simply live, and they don’t have the capacity or energy to live for others. We understand this and allow humans to be dull, greedy, prone to anger, and fickle, permitting the malice in human hearts.

"But we have enough time, enough strength. The tasks you cannot do, leave them to us."

The Grey Craftsman answered emphatically, "I believe, compared to sitting in a temple and being worshipped—doing this is what a ’god’ should and ought to do."