As it turned out, even Senzi sometimes went too far.

Bazarian was very curious about Ethan's next reaction—would he stomp his feet in rage like others? Or would he furiously smash things?

"Anzi, are you happy?"

Surprisingly, Ethan's tone remained calm, as if to him, the impending death was nothing more than a grand fireworks display, and he even had the leisure to inquire about his companion's viewing experience.

"Why do you ask?"

"What you wanted to do has been achieved."

After a moment of silence, Bazarian said, "Too simple, boring."

Only at the start of the "mayoral election" did it give her a little excitement, but even that bit of excitement dissipated as she gradually understood Mary.

Would a god be overjoyed at defeating a human in an election?

In fact, there would be no emotional fluctuations.

The outcome of the election was as it should be, and she would even be able to comfort her opponent afterward, as a human, she had tried very hard.

"It seems you're really too bored."

Bazarian's response was just as Ethan had expected, bringing destruction to this world was just a diversion in her monotonous life.

A soul that has reached the extreme of loneliness can only use death as a means of seeking thrill. Yet now, even death itself seems to have lost its allure for Bazarian.

"Now's not the time to worry about me, is it?"

Bazarian reminded Ethan, "You might still have a chance to struggle. I don't mind if you break the rules and try your hardest to influence the outcome of this election."

"In that case, the election would lose its meaning."

But Ethan shook his head, "Win or lose, I hope you will be sincerely convinced."

Mary hopes to bring justice to Oasis City. If she can't achieve her wish by abiding by the rules, then everything she has done will just be bubbles that burst with a poke.

Almost simultaneously, high above, Mary also started to take action.

"Lady Mary, I feel... unwell."

This was a member of the new city hall personally selected by Leon. Though terminally ill and enduring great pain, he still tried to maintain his dignity. "Perhaps we should temporarily stop the trial to treat the residents of the Lower City. If they die, even judging a thousand officials will be meaningless."

He still hoped to remain objective. However, the obsession within the red snowflakes had infiltrated everyone's minds, binding their consciousness together and pushing them toward the abyss of death.

This plague, there was no cure for it.

"Here, drink this."

Mary picked up a glass of water and handed it to him.

"...What is this?"

The man showed confusion, clearly knowing that the cup only contained ordinary water, prepared specially to prevent Mary's mouth from drying out while she read the charges.

"Hot water."

Mary stated calmly, "Drink more hot water when you're sick."

Despite the myriad doubts, the man still followed through.

Because Mary said so.

With the warmth flowing down his throat, the comforting feeling immediately filled his entire body. All the pain washed away with the warmth, and soon, all questions turned into belief. He couldn't explain how a cup of hot water could cure the plague, but belief required no reason.

At this moment, Mary's figure seemed to overlap with that of a great being.

They need not question, for the answer had always been before them.

The Goddess of Life spoke thus.

"Rest for ten minutes, and go drink some hot water."

No panic, no struggle. Facing the sudden red snowflakes, Mary calmly asked everyone present to go get a cup of hot water, "Leon and Grave have also prepared some exquisite snacks for you."

She didn't even focus her attention on the plague itself.

To Mary, it was nothing more than a sneeze in the winter, not something particularly noteworthy.

Yet it was precisely this calm attitude that made the wailing people stop. When they saw the man who drank the hot water recover visibly, the affliction on them no longer seemed so severe.

"They prepared hot dog rolls!"

Soon, an excited voice rose from the crowd. For many poor people in the Lower City who couldn't afford meat, hot dog rolls were undoubtedly a luxury. And now, they were associated with the words "free provision."

The excitement quickly spread through the crowd, until all wails disappeared.

Mary also found a chair to sit on, poured herself a cup of hot water, letting the red snow fall on her shoulders.

In the past three days, she had thought a lot. After Ethan's "mysterious disappearance," Bazatous had temporarily become her spiritual guide.

She came to fully understand the boundary between humans and gods.

In the past, she would have immediately initiated quarantine, trying every possible way, using the most rational means to control the spread of the scarlet plague. Even if she had to bear the hatred of many, she would force herself to become cold and heartless, for only by doing so, could she become a machine to fight the plague.

But now, she would merely advise them to drink more hot water.

Isn't it just a sneeze and a spit of blood?

What's the big deal?

"Seems like I'm your only audience now."

Mary opened her hand to catch a red snowflake, "As a human, you've done quite well."

A superior tone, yet nothing short of a significant mockery to a failure.

The obsession to fight the whole world, the determination to sacrifice oneself, yet in front of gods, it couldn't compare to a cup of hot water. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"It's utterly meaningless!"

The remnants of Laris's consciousness remained, yet he had to accept the fact that Mary had become his only audience. Just with a cup of hot water, she expelled him from everyone's minds, those who were on the brink of death were sipping hot water in the winter, joyfully discussing the free hot dog rolls provided.

"Even if you can bring them temporary justice, so what?"

He questioned Mary, as it was the only thing he could do, "The Church Court proved the failure of order over thousands of years! Look at the Far West now, look at those humble people struggling! This is the world created by the True Gods!"

A long journey, yet decayed to its core.

Giving people false hopes.

"So what if they are so-called omniscient and omnipotent True Gods?"

"I am not Them."

Facing the constant doubts from the red snowflakes, Mary merely raised her cup.

"Gulp gulp."

An indifferent attitude, seemingly not paying heed to his ramblings until the murmurs ceased for a long time, and the red snowflake in her palm nearly melted, she leisurely said, "I will surpass Them."

In that moment, the endless mumbling vanished.

Laris stopped his clamoring, as if reassessing Mary through his last bit of consciousness.

Just a few short words spoke of an unimaginable determination, for a believer, this was a challenge to their faith, as vile as heresy.

At that moment, he suddenly understood the reason for his defeat.

He hated this world created by the True Gods endlessly, yet until the very last moment, he still needed to rely on the Goddess's authority to exact his revenge on this world.

How ironic?

Yet the woman before him, declared her intention to surpass all True Gods.

This was a path he had never once envisioned.

From the red snowflakes came laughter.

Laris seemed to return to his past flamboyant attitude.

"Such boastful words!"

His voice grew weaker, as if this abrupt event was nearing its end, "Then let's wait and see, Mary! I'll be waiting for you at the end of Hell."