The world controlled by dice [Western Fantasy]

That ominous premonition came true, but Sirius couldn't help having a trace of doubt.

He stared at the ancient god in front of him, and couldn't help saying: "However, people should not forget history. Even now, people still remember the existence of these eras in the past."

"This is what you think, Sirius. I understand what you mean." Antinam said softly, "But in Fisher's world, the situation is different. Human beings can remember the glory of the past, such as the Imperial Age; But humans must also forget the gods."

"...Because of pollution?"

"Yes, pollution from the past." Antinam said, "For humans, as long as the gods continue to exist, they have to be troubled by it.

"Thus, for the general public, they will gradually forget the gods; perhaps some people will still remember the old gods, but that is only a small part, and it does not matter.

"If the Fischer civilization wants to continue to develop, then humans need to get rid of the shadow of the old gods—I mean, the old gods, and, 'shadows'. Therefore, humans must forget me.

"...'I' don't need me anymore, Sirius."

He still uses a very gentle and peaceful tone, that kind of softness blurs his own will.

Siles couldn't help being silent for a moment.

What really puzzled him was that Anti-Num himself didn't seem to have any... the idea of ​​wanting to live.

He accepted death so calmly and frankly that it was even difficult for Sirius to think about this issue calmly out of his context.

But he finally did.

He said: "You are the Fischer civilization. So, if you want to live, you must be able to live ... as long as this civilization is still called Fisher. Is it because you are blaming yourself?"

"Remorse?" Antinam seemed to understand the word.Finally, he shook his head slightly.

He showed a helpless expression that was almost a wry smile.He said, "No, it's not like that. On the one hand, I'm old enough, like a human being, that I don't want to deal with change. I don't want to change with Fisher's civilization at this time.

"I can already see where the path of destiny leads. It will be very different from the past. And I don't like being changed that much. Yes, I am Fisher, but because In this way, I am also bound by this civilization, although I want to.

"I can indeed live, with the Fischer civilization. But is that really me? I was born from the nascent fire of this civilization, but for a long time in the past, I thought about loneliness .

"I'm thinking about...myself. Myself apart from civilization. I'd rather admit that I'm just Antinam than Antinam Fisher. What does this surname bring me? I can't I want to understand.

"... Time has passed for so long, and things have undergone countless changes. I have been sleeping for so many years. I am willing to face my death calmly, just like my children, falling."

Siles listened in silence.He thought that Anti-Num was indeed quite like a human being, he was thinking about the value of his own existence, and because of this, he doubted the meaning of his own existence.

Antinam said again: "On the other hand... this matter is a little more complicated than you imagined, Sirius."

After deliberating for a while, Siles put aside the topic of "death" for the time being.

He remained calm because it seemed that Anti-Num was still some time away from falling, and it didn't happen immediately; however, this news did surprise and disturb him.

He then asked, "Where is the complexity?" He paused, and then slowly realized a... It should be said, a topic that is really related to "Antinam", "...the Revelator?"

Antinam nodded slightly, and for a while, he didn't speak.He tasted hot tea and snacks as comfortably and comfortably as a human being, and casually shared his evaluation of the afternoon tea with Siles.

He said that some human enjoyments are pleasing to God.

He was silent for a moment, and Siles also let himself escape from the chaotic and complicated information in his brain, and rested for a while.

Afterwards, Antinam said: "When the gods fell, things changed. I can't recover their power."

Siles was slightly taken aback.

"...I've heard about your three-element theory: body, spirit, and will. It's true." Antinam said.

Siles quickly reviewed his three-element theory in his mind, which is common to humans and gods: will = cognition = god name, spirituality = power = godhead, constitution = existence = godhood.

He said: "The fall of the gods means..."

"It means the collapse of the will, the collapse of the body, and the overflow of the spirit." Antinam said simply, "For the gods, their three elements are highly closely integrated.

"That is to say, the three are inseparable. Godhead, god position, and god name are all intertwined and combined to be said to be a god—you have to pay attention to this, Sirius.

"You already know the result of the collapse of the body, that is star dust. There is also power contained in star dust.

"The reason why any star dust can be used to make the potion of the revelator is because I am their 'father' and 'mother', and their bodies also come from me in the final analysis. I divided a part of me, Be them.

"Will and spirituality, for human beings, means their souls; for the old gods, maybe you can also understand them as their souls, that is, the power that I divided."

Siles said thoughtfully: "Does the combination of will and spirituality mean power? I used to think that spirituality meant power."

"One offense and one defense, external and internal. This is not contradictory." Antinam commented, "No matter what you say, the soul is always one."

Siles nodded, indicating that he understood.

Antinam continued: "Therefore, when they fall, their souls disintegrate into mist. If they are still alive, I can take their power back. But, they have already fallen .

"How can I describe it...it's like a piece of broken glass. If it's just broken into many pieces, then I can use glue to put it back together. But now, it's turned into powder, and I really can't do anything .”

Siles couldn't help frowning, he said, "They... turned into powder?"

"Because only in this way can a god be completely destroyed." Antinam said softly, "To completely crush its existence, its soul, its essence, and the concepts on which its power depends."

He still talked about "killing the old god" in a very gentle tone.

In this tone, Siles suddenly understood.

Life and death, for a god like Anti-Nam, cannot simply be defined by human concepts of living and dying.When Antinam mentioned that he was about to die, for him, it might just be the beginning of a new journey.

Just like any wandering poet who died in a foreign land, he hoped that he could enter Tau's cemetery because of this.

He thought, maybe he should find a chance to ask Anti-Nam again what happened to his "death".But now, another trouble affected his thoughts.

He thought about it and said, "Since you can't recover the power of the old god...then, how did the fog dissipate?"

Antinam smiled gently, and he said, "I guess you can think of this question." He paused, and then answered the question, "Because of the Revelator."

Siles froze for a moment.

"The Revelator... oh, the Revelator." Antinam sighed in a low voice, "People think that the Revelator borrows my power. No, that's not exactly the case.

"The power of the gods of the past covers all aspects of the world. Perhaps it should be said that I just provided a bridge for people to borrow the power of the gods of the past; No problem at all.

"...the power of the Revelators is a deception, a secret. They never had power, and they were able to use it because the world is still shrouded in mist, which is the true source of this power.

"Their use of this power is equivalent to consuming the fog, which is equivalent to saving the world. And when the world is no longer shrouded in fog and no longer needs to be saved, then they will also lose this power.

"Perhaps they can reproduce this power through me—I mean, the god of the past and history—but, as the fog gradually disappears, and as Fisher civilization takes another step forward, I will gradually become weaker.

"The past and history will not be worth mentioning, and the power of the enlightener will not be worth mentioning. Only when people are weak and powerless, will they miss the strength they once had; if they are stepping towards strength step by step, why should they miss the past Woolen cloth?

"I know you must be curious about a question: Why is the power of the Revelator so rough and fragmented?

"Because there's no need for it.

"The more people use the power of the enlightener, the closer they are to the critical point of losing this power. One day, they will bid farewell to the extraordinary.

"Since this is the case, why is it necessary to make this power too exquisite and detailed? If this is the case, then maybe when people lose this power, they may even feel reluctance and sadness.

"So, no, there is no need. Let this power be rough, complex, and dazzling, and you can't figure out the way to master it. This is just a transitional method—just to let human beings work hard to consume and use the mist. "

Having said that, Antinam couldn't help but pause for a while, giving Siles some time to think and react.

Siles showed a rather astonished expression.This expression is very incredible to him, after all, he has always been calm and calm, as if nothing in this world can surprise him.

But...but that doesn't count!

It never occurred to him that the extraordinary power in this world is destined to be lost and left behind. It is a power system deliberately created by the gods to solve the plight of this world... No, "Gods" deliberately created it .

So the entry, cultivation, and advancement of this power—there is not even room for improvement! ——all so rough and simplified.So the system of the enlightener, to some extent, can also be said to be the system of the patron.

The Mists are the power of the fallen gods; that nightmarish gray-black mist that enveloped the world, gradually dissipating during the 400 years of dedicated and tireless rituals used by the Apocalypse of Man.

No one knows why the fog dissipated, as if the credit was simply a gift of fate.But actually, the credit, the honor, belongs to every human enlightener of the last 400 years.

They do not know themselves, they do not know the nature of the Revelator.But they have indeed saved the world invisibly, and perhaps, saved themselves.

Even the followers of the old gods are included in this grand and unknown salvation plan.After all, even if they look down on Antinam, the god of the past and history, they are still using the power of the revealer.

If this group of followers of the old gods knew that every ritual they used was a consumption of the power of the old gods they believed in, then they probably wouldn't know whether to cry or laugh.

But the gods have already fallen; the only god in the world is struggling against the unknown outer gods, hoping to retire in obscurity after this incident.

The age of the gods will pass, and will eventually pass.Human self-help is a crucial part of this.

Siles was silent for a moment, and then couldn't help saying: "Your decision is quite wise."

When Antinam chose "History" as his current strength, he probably considered all kinds of things.

For example, in the silent era at that time, human civilization was extremely weak, but the past has become an era that everyone misses and yearns for.The power of the past is so prosperous, so Anti-Nam can use this power to fight against the old gods and outer gods.

For another example, this power allows him to open a door for human beings to pass through the past.The door is full of shadows and mist, but people can ignite it as a fire, illuminating a bright and open future.Human beings can use this to save themselves, and even use this to get rid of the shackles of gods.

Antinam even counted his own weakness and his own retirement.

For another example, when he made this decision, he already knew that he would gradually become weaker.Therefore, He had already let Dice leave Fisher's world at that time, looking for helpers outside.

Considering that the purpose of "Shadow" is to obtain fate, letting Dice leave temporarily is probably also to avoid risks, temporarily giving Antinam and "Shadow" a relatively simple confrontation environment, so that Antinam has no worries.

One thing that Sires cared about and paid attention to was that Antinam believed in the power of human beings.

The former patrons were humans who were blessed by the old gods, so they could use the power of the old gods.As for Anti-Nam, he handed over the power of the past to humans almost without reservation.

Greedy humans will want the power; rational humans will want to use the power; desperate humans will want to turn to the power.Everyone would love to be a Revelator, even followers of the Old Gods.

And humans have also "repaid" Anti-Nam's trust to a certain extent.They have indeed done quite successfully. In the four years of the Mist Age, they have slowly and carefully taken the first step to re-explore this world.

...However, this approach, this truth, and this story made Siles feel a vague, hazy and profound shock.

He thought of Anti-Nam's painstaking and exhaustive schemes, his willingness to accept his own destiny after all this, his stubbornness and loneliness of not wanting to change, preferring to stay in the darkness at the beginning of the world...

Siles sighed suddenly.

"...Mother," said Siles, "may I call you that?"

Antinam was taken aback for a moment, he looked like he was taken aback, but he habitually maintained that soft face.

"Uh... of course. I'm glad you can call me that." He still said softly.

"As a parent, mother, you always pay too much for your children." Siles said in a calm but subtle tone, "In my hometown, Earth, a parent like you , it is best to learn about pedagogical theory.”

Antinam looked at him silently.

"...This will spoil the child and make the child unable to be independent. At the same time, your wishful thinking is also a kind of cruelty, because you do not regard your child as an independent individual; after all, after you leave After that, your kids need to go on their own lives."

Antinam seemed a little surprised, and he said almost dryly, "So...so I don't want humans to know everything I do."

"But I already know, mother." Siles replied simply.

Antinam stared at him blankly, as if he suddenly realized at this moment that Sirius was actually a human being—er, "sort of", that's right.

"...Gods don't need to learn human pedagogy. The relationship between gods and people is different from that between parents and children." Antinam said slowly.

"It's different. But you can't go from one extreme to the other," says Siles.

He thought to himself, was he just sharing some parenting experience from the earth with Anti-Nam?Thanks to the almighty Internet, he can actually say a few words clearly.

Siles freed himself from this strange thought, and continued: "What if after you leave, a threat like 'Shadow' reappears in Fisher's world?"

"If humans were freed from gods, then they wouldn't attract 'shadows'," said Antinam.

Siles stared at Antinam for a moment, and then calmly came to a conclusion: "So you are indeed blaming yourself."

Antinam was speechless for a moment.

"...I'm not saying that your approach is wrong." Siles tried to keep his tone as gentle as possible, "I feel that the approach of 'Revelator' is quite shocking, and it is a very wonderful ingenuity.

"I'm not saying that your vision for the future is bad. I can't deny that the old gods have indeed brought many problems to human society. Until now, the followers of the old gods have still caused a lot of losses to mankind. .

"However, even setting aside the influence of gods, there are many problems in human beings. In my hometown, Earth, even without gods, human society may not be able to develop smoothly. The world is always good Good things and bad things coexist.

"It's just that I feel that while you are always doubting the value of your own existence, you also have a sense of substitution for the identity of Fisher's civilization. And your choice is for your predicament and self-contradiction—for you, It's of no use."

Antinam said: "Because I am indeed a Fischer civilization."

"Yes, you are." Siles said objectively.

Antinam: "..."

He felt that Sirius' tone was not sincere.

He looked at Sirius for a moment, then sighed, and said, "You just think that I don't need to die. But the happy ending in the novel doesn't mean the reality."

"Don't I hold the power of fate?" Siles said half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Antinam was silent for a moment, then shook his head slightly.He didn't deny it.

"...Let's talk about 'Shadow'." Antinam changed the subject.

Siles noticed that Antinam's attitude was loose, which made him slightly relieved.Of course, he didn't expect these few words of his to change Antinam's determination.

Antinam seems determined to let the past history of himself and Fisher's world be buried with him.

He did make a mistake, and one mistake led to other mistakes.However, this is not an exam; moreover, even if it is an exam, not getting full marks does not mean the end of life.

Siles always thought so.

...Uh, although Professor Siles Noel has always assigned a lot of homework to students, and also used the unheard-of exams of La Mifa University to measure the academic level of students...But, indeed, he does not think that "grades "It can determine a person's future.

So, of course, "grades" cannot determine a god's future.Besides, after Antinam made that decision, there was no secret examiner to judge the grade for him.

He then said, "Okay. About 'Shadow'... Dice once told me that 'Shadow' is outside civilization. I've always been quite curious about this statement."

"'Beyond civilization', isn't it?" Antinam explained quite patiently, "I have to tell you about this world first... the world and the universe in a whole sense, not just Fisher's world. planet.

"The world as a whole is a vast, vast, almost endless place. But it is not a 'space' in the physical sense. You used Akamala's glasses to see what was hidden in the darkness, didn't you? ?”

Siles nodded.He still wears [Akamala's Spectacle Frame] until now.

Antinam explained: "Before the fall of Akamala, this child specially made... or, in other words, prepared this pair of spectacle frames. This is not mainly used in reality, although it can be used in this way.

"Actually, He is for the successor to use 'outside the world'. However, I have to hand it over to you through the church in the past in reality. At that time, you still knew nothing about many things."

Siles did admit this.However, thinking about it now, that was just last year.So much has happened in his year in Fisherworld.

Antinam explained the spectacle frame, and then went on to talk about the world.

He said, "So, what I mean by 'world' is this dark...conceptual world. You see my round 'paradise' now, don't you? But in reality, in older times , my residence is the Fischer civilization in the conceptual sense.

"That's formless, that's higher or lower than reality. A civilization is the 'planet' of this imaginary world, and these civilizations—and their gods—make up the place. What should I call it This place... 'god universe', so to speak.

"Only the gods can discover and explore here, no matter whether they are powerful or weak gods. This place is full of projections of civilizations, paradise of gods, and it is a gathering place for things that cannot be touched in the real universe."

Siles tried his best to understand Antinam's words.

The universe of the gods is the universe in the abstract sense. There is no real thing or existence here, just like the invisible, intangible, and intangible gap between matter and matter, elements and elements.

Creatures living in the real world cannot enter the universe of gods.And even if they are lucky or unlucky to enter the Dark Sea once in a while, they probably won't be able to come to the universe of gods.

Thinking of this, Siles said with certainty: "The dice is in the universe of gods?"

"Yes." Anti-Nam said, "The end of the dark sea is the universe of gods. The concept of 'beyond the world' includes both the sea of ​​darkness and the universe of gods, but it is not completely included.

"...Our topic has gone a little bit awry. Let me talk about the concept of 'beyond civilization'. 'Beyond the world' can also be said to be a certain distance, similar to the concept of space. The world and the world outside, Really two different places.

"But civilizations and beyond civilizations are much more complicated than you imagine. In the universe of gods, every civilization has a corresponding... er, 'bubble'? Perhaps it can be understood in this way, just take Akamala's Paradise as an analogy.

"Countless bubbles make up this ocean—not referring to the Dark Sea, by the way—but, we assume, only assumptions, not real existence. We assume that there is a sun above the ocean, shining on the sea water .

"Since 'bubbles' make up this ocean, theoretically, 'bubbles' illuminated by the sun should also exist..."

Siles said blankly, "Shadow."

"Yes." Anti-Nam said softly, "Everything in the world is in contrast to each other. Where there is light, there must be shadow. 'Shadow' is this shadow. He is the collection of Bubble's shadow. He is The opposite of civilization is... the shadow side of the world.

"Although I didn't think so when I split Huddoka, it's an embarrassing coincidence. The shadow side of the world, which happens to be used to describe 'shadow', is very vivid and appropriate."

aggregate.Siles realized thoughtfully.

... He suddenly reacted: "You just said that Lygardia set out to find the root of the 'Shadow' during the Shadow Era? But since the 'Shadow' is outside civilization and is a collection, then..."

"Yes, 'Shadow' is not a god like us. 'Shadow' does not have the root of civilization." Antinam sighed softly, "Or, as long as there is still a god in this world Civilization, even if there is only one, then the 'shadow' is immortal.

"If it is said that I was born with Fischer's civilization, then the 'Shadow' is also born with civilization. He is our shadow. Perhaps... from a certain point of view, as long as I am alive, then the 'Shadow' is also will live.

"Ligardia, my dear, clumsy and steady child, has made a sad choice."

They all fell silent for a moment.

Is Lygardia's practice useless?At this moment, this question only lightly passed through Sirius' brain, and then diffused into an indescribable complexity and emotion.

Lygardia, who has embarked on a journey and has disappeared so far, may be in this vast universe of gods like the deep sea, desperately, calmly, and diligently looking for the foundation of the foreign gods that invaded his hometown, intending to wipe them all out. .

This long effort, this endless darkness, this vast world, and this small god who was cut off from his authority by God the Father, and even left most of his power before the journey...

Such stark contrast brings a thundering touch.

"...Can we find Lygardia again?" Silles paused, "Did he fall?"

"I don't know." Anti-Nam said gently and calmly, "Maybe not. However, in the universe of gods, he may also meet other powerful and ancient gods."

The implication is that Lygardia may have been killed by the gods of other civilizations.

When he said this, he didn't show any emotional changes.

Siles wanted to say something, but in the end he just sighed inwardly.He turned his head sideways, looking at the scene of Fisher's world on the glass cover through [Akamala's glasses frame].

He tried to use a metaphor to dispel this haze, he thought, this glass cover is like a giant screen theater playing movies.

...well, have fun with it.

He turned to ask, "So, we can't kill 'Shadow'." He thought for a moment, "Only banish?"

"It can only be like this." Antinam finally showed a helpless expression, "In the past countless years, some civilizations have been polluted by 'shadows'. Of course they are not happy to accept such an ending, but they finally All failed.

"For a long time, I thought I was just dying too.

"After I woke up, I also communicated with the gods of many other civilizations in the universe of gods. They told me many things... To be honest, I didn't realize it until this world. There is such a vast universe beyond Fisher's world.

"Usually I've basked in solitude, basking in the joy of dividing my powers, thinking the world was all that was in this baby's cradle I was in.

"And when I knew the vastness of the outside world, the time was too late, and I could no longer confront the 'shadow' head-on.

"When I was young, I didn't cherish my youth; when I got older, the things that were worthless and readily available when I was young have already left me - quite a human sigh, isn't it?

"...Anyway, I plan to give it a try. I can't just give up on Fischer's civilization. They have also provided a lot of information, although I don't know how much of it is true and how much is false. I would rather That's all true.

"I made some efforts to weaken the power of 'Shadow' as much as possible."

"...Sorry, mother, I want to interrupt." Siles said, "I thought of a question."

Antinam stopped, not angry because of Sires' interruption, but said gently: "It's okay, what do you want to ask?"

"The power of 'Shadow'." Siles said, "In Fisher's world, 'Shadow' doesn't seem to... show power?"

Antinam nodded. He understood Sirius' question and said, "The power of 'shadow' is 'beyond civilization'. He is our opposite."

He considered it for a while, and then used a slightly simpler statement.

"He can pollute us and collapse the concept of civilization that we symbolize. Of course, it doesn't mean that the relevant concepts in the real world disappear, but only us, disappear." Antinam said, "If we are If it is a magnet, then He can demagnetize it."

Siles was somewhat surprised, and he couldn't help saying: "This sounds quite powerful."

"Of course it's very powerful." Antinam sighed, "If he wasn't interested in some things in Fisher's world, then he could have destroyed it directly, just like he did before. Civilization is his prey .”

Siles couldn't help frowning at this moment.He realized a problem, "Shadow" seemed too powerful. "Shadow" is outside of civilization, but civilization and outside of civilization should, in theory, restrain each other.

Why is "Shadow" so powerful?The gods of Fisher's civilization are powerless to fight back?Is there no power that can restrain the "shadow"?

When it comes to "shadows," the problems are overwhelming.Siles decided to listen to Antinam's continuation first, and then study these doubts of his own later.

Antinam then said: "Then back to the topic I just talked about. In order to fight against the 'Shadow', I have made some efforts. You should know that the history of the Shadow Period in Fisher's world has a fault?"

Siles was taken aback, he didn't understand why Antinam mentioned this.He said cautiously: "Yes. Many historians regret it."

"That's what I did." Antinam said simply.

Siles was really taken aback again.He thought about what Antinam said before and after, and said thoughtfully, "You want to weaken the influence of 'Shadow' in Fisher's world?"

Antinam sighed, and said: "Yes. Nowadays, people don't know the existence of 'Shadow', but in fact, in the Shadow Age, the situation was not like this. It was... a disaster.

"You know that in Akamala's Paradise, that is, in the dream of the deep sea, there are ruins of civilizations and cities under the sea. That's what was caused when the 'Shadow' first came to Fisher's world.

"That's not even his original intention, at least not on his own initiative. It's because he is the opposite of civilization, so once he comes to this world, the civilization of this world will collapse.

"...not a collapse in the physical sense, but...for example, a war that could have been avoided actually broke out; a natural or man-made disaster that shouldn't have happened destroyed the city in an instant.

"For another example, my children, who were already full of conflicts, started to have some small conflicts that were obviously insignificant, but they completely turned their faces at this moment.

"These are the effects of the arrival of the 'Shadow'. Things always seem irreparable at this moment. Human beings at that time thought it was caused by the conflicts between the old gods, but some people thought... it was the 'later gods'.

"They thought it was the emergence of a new god, a contradiction between the new god and the old god. It was a chaotic day, whether it was for humans or gods.

"Until... the old gods noticed something was wrong.

"Actually, there are many old gods who found something wrong. Although Lygardia was divided by me, he is still a 'real' god, so he realized that there was something wrong in this world, and then discovered the 'shadow 'The presence.

"Pesonari discovered something was wrong with Thaddeus and Ruthmi. He realized that something terrible was about to be born. He managed to stop it, but he also let himself be targeted by the 'shadow'. At that time he Don't even know what 'shadow' is yet.

"Menawaka found something wrong with Huddoka. The god of commerce was, I would say, perhaps the most... cunning of all the old gods. That's not a good adjective, he was quite astute indeed.

"Shadows was a crazy time. What should I say