Everyone: ?

The moment this sinister-looking person appeared, everyone's hearts shuddered, as if injected with a shot of adrenaline.

But just as everyone was still adjusting to his sudden appearance, his opening line, blurted out right away, threw their brains for another loop.

So much so that, except for Chiyo Eine, no one paid attention to why "Sin" and "Blank" would have a connection in the real world.

It even seemed their relationship wasn't as tense as everyone had always imagined.

Only Chiyo Eine, after seeing the two holding hands tightly, had her brow twitch slightly. Then, she hid her figure behind the others, forcing herself to look away.

Everyone's reactions and various little movements naturally didn't escape Xie Antong's eyes now.

She let go of Lu Ce's hand and cleared her throat, clearly also startled by what Lu Ce had just said.

Earlier, when she went to find him, she didn't have time to say much, only mentioning that the Dragon Group needed to hold a meeting and that there were many people.

Lu Ce merely thought for a moment before agreeing directly.

At the time, he even said, "Perfect timing, I also have something to discuss with them. Let's go."

She didn't quite understand then what he wanted to discuss. Now that she knows, she's wondering if she should try to stop him.

After all, Lu Ce can be extremely bizarre when doing things his own way, but if that approach is promoted to everyone, it might not be appropriate.

This concerns the survival of humanity. If these people learn Lu Ce's methods, it would be practically suicidal...

"Hmm? Is it because my arrival was too sudden that you're not very welcoming? Why is no one speaking?"

"Or is it that you don't know me? Oh, let me introduce myself. My name is 'Sin'. I'm somewhat famous in the game CHOSEN’S PARADISE!, I suppose."

Who doesn't know you!?

It's because what you said is too outrageous! Everyone has never even considered such a question.

The game has always asked things like "Do you want to ascend?" or "Do you want to become a Divine Messenger or an Apostle?"

How could anyone possibly talk about whether to become a god or not?

In the end, it was Perfect Life who stepped forward and asked:

"What do you mean? Are you saying... you've already found a way to become a god directly?"

Even he found it hard to believe what he was saying. During the battle with Despair, he realized for the first time the kind of irresistible power the gods in the game possessed.

"Of course, isn't it a simple matter?" Lu Ce spread his hands, not feeling there was anything wrong with what he said at all.

"Maybe... you should first teach everyone how to control and absorb the power within their bodies?" Xie Antong couldn't help but say.

"Wait a moment."

Finally, the Grand Elder, who had been motionless and almost like a transparent person, spoke.

Unlike the others, after experiencing long years, he didn't think what "Sin" said now was nonsense.

"Isn't there still one person missing here?"

"If the content of the upcoming discussion is exceptionally crucial, I think... the Dragon Group should try to find Sun."

Only then did everyone look around and realize that the current de facto world number two hadn't shown up at all.

Not only was he not present in person, but he couldn't even be contacted online. Messages sent to him in the game were like stones sinking into the sea, with no response.

"No need. You mean that guy who isn't very bright, huh?"

"He already set out on this path long ago. He started earlier than all of you. Right now, it's probably impossible for you to find him."

The flowing, multicolored mask on Lu Ce's face kept shifting, finally forming a somewhat ferocious, perverted smile.

"If he has any questions, he should come find me on his own. Yes, he will definitely come find me!"

Lu Ce didn't explicitly say it, but he knew that from the moment Sun devoured Judgment, there was still an unresolved causality between the two of them.

Especially after the last game ended. Although he wasn't conscious at the time, his subconscious retained the memory. After regaining consciousness, he learned what had happened.

Sun's violent, overwhelming murderous intent towards him only strengthened his judgment.

—Between him and Sun, there was still unresolved causality...

"Alright, in that case, please tell us," The Creator said after a moment of contemplation.

"If it benefits this world, we would naturally dare to die ten thousand deaths without regret!"

"Ugh~ Enough, enough, why say such corny things? It's clearly such a beneficial matter." Lu Ce waved his hand dismissively and casually pulled over a chair.

He sat on the chair backwards, arms wrapped around the backrest, and addressed everyone:

"Before getting into this topic, let me ask a question. Has anyone ever thought about what exactly the gods are? Where did they come from?"

"Humans are born from their mothers. Do the gods also have mothers who gave birth to them?"

"Oh, of course, you're an exception," Lu Ce said, waving at Perfect Life.

Perfect Life: ?

Wait, what does this discrimination mean!

Everyone else was also stunned. They seemed to have never considered this question.

One doesn't ask about a hero's origins. Who would think about where the gods came from? Survival itself is the problem!

Knowing exactly what they were like, Lu Ce directly gave the conclusion himself.

"So, I have a little guess: that gods aren't actually anything at all."

"They don't exist. Or they exist, but what they originally were isn't important!"

"It's just that the power in the universe gathered together, condensed into a mass, and then this mass itself developed a will and started calling itself a god!"

This was also the inspiration Lu Ce gained after Knowledge self-exposed and disintegrated, perfectly explaining how they have no physical form and how disintegration is the process of their power dissipating.

Everyone was a bit confused. "Sin's" theory was extremely bold, giving a feeling of clouds parting to reveal the moon.

"So, it's not that the gods possess power. Rather, anything that possesses power and has a will can be called a god! Power is their very essence!"

"And the current gods, because they lost the bet, now have a portion of their power inside you all. This is something they absolutely cannot accept."

"So, in the next game, whoever you faced this time, you'll likely face them again!"

Lu Ce's voice grew more and more excited as he spoke. The mask began shifting towards Jealousy's pink hue, gradually turning maniacal.

"So! As long as you defeat the corresponding god, win all their power over, and become the vessel of that power yourselves, then you are the gods!"

"What a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Everyone, this is the simplest, most direct path to godhood! Aren't you excited? Hahahahaha!"