Chapter 238

Chapter 238

At this moment, in Balder's domain.

Unlike the domains of the other Old Gods, there was no night or crimson moon here. The sun hung high in the sky, never setting. As soon as one entered, they would be enveloped in pristine light and heat.

The city's architecture was also resplendent, with a style resembling Jerusalem on Earth. There were quite a few Perfect Humans living here, making it almost the size of a city. It was worlds apart from Blackrock Town.

On this day, a figure clad in black robes hurriedly entered from outside. The Perfect Humans patrolling the walls had received a revelation that a guest would arrive, so they didn't stop the robed figure.

Upon arriving at this territory, the cloaked person finally slowed down his anxious pace. However, remembering his mission, he didn't have time to appreciate the surroundings and hurried towards the central temple.

The majestic and magnificent temple stood right in the heart of the city, the most eye-catching structure. After entering the temple, the cloaked person lowered his hood, revealing an ordinary face. A peculiar raven pattern was embroidered on the black fabric of his robe over his chest.

"Lord Balder, please allow me to pay my respects," he said devoutly, kneeling on one knee.

A glow gradually emerged from the stone statue at the center of the temple, and then, like coming to life, the statue transformed into a man almost entirely enveloped in light. He had golden hair and golden eyes, exuding an imposing aura.

"You shouldn't call me by that name," Balder said. "My name now is Jehovah."

"I apologize for my rudeness, Lord Bael," the man hurriedly said.

Baal had no interest in dwelling on such trivial matters, as he had paid a heavy price in altering the entire timeline when he was last summoned and outmaneuvered by Lane. Despite sacrificing several rogue gods, his essence had been severely depleted, and it had yet to fully recover even after this period of time.

The Old Gods' existence spanned eons, and even a brief slumber could result in decades or even centuries passing. The recovery from severe injuries took even longer, measured in centuries. This was one reason why the Old Gods dared not easily engage the rogue gods in battle now that their consciousness in the Dream World had fallen into a deep sleep.

For Bael, however, there were other paths to recovery. It was merely vexing that he hadn't been able to regain his full strength after such a long time.

"Come straight to the point," Bael said impatiently. In order to hasten his recovery, he had been in a state of slumber these past few days. If not for the leader of the organization of Ravens he had planted seeking an audience, he might not have awoken early.

"Yes, yes, it's like this. The situation in the Dream World has shifted."

The Raven leader quickly informed Bael about the existence of the 'Investigators' organization and their New World plan.

"As you instructed, we've conveyed the truth to all regions. The evolution has progressed smoothly in many areas, but since this group emerged, the Wretched who had already succumbed to despair and madness seem to have found new purpose. Hence, I deemed it necessary to report to you..."

"A New World?" Bael muttered the term strangely. The Raven leader might not know, but how could Bael be unaware that this so-called New World referred to reality?

Hah hah, but that place isn't any New World; it's just reality on the brink of destruction.

"Your thoughts... do you wish to impose divine retribution upon that organization?" the leader of the Ravens of Death cautiously gauged Bael's intentions.

"No need," Bael replied coldly. "Accelerate the original plan and deliver the truth to all the Completes as soon as possible. Eradicate their hopes."

"Yes," the leader of the Ravens of Death reluctantly withdrew.

Exiting the temple, the leader still felt somewhat downcast. He had initially assumed that the information about the Investigative Organization was crucial to Bael, but the deity seemed unconcerned.

Perhaps it's because Lord Bael is confident in dealing with any situation that arises...

The leader could only console himself with this thought as he walked through the pristine city. He couldn't help but observe his surroundings. As expected, the place remained much the same as during his previous visits. Every Complete inhabitant wore an identical 'happy' smile on their faces. After a while, it felt surreal and eerie, for these people never ceased smiling, maintaining the same curve on their lips.

At first, the Raven of Death found it chilling, but eventually, he grew accustomed to it and even believed that the Completes living here were truly happy.

Though their minds were permanently under Bael's control, they were no longer at risk of corruption, free from the horrors of hell, causing no trouble for the deity they served, and forever basking in His protection. Wasn't that a form of happiness?

Shaking his head, the leader continued walking down the street, heading towards the exit, oblivious to the subtle gaze trailing him from behind.

After the Raven of Death left, Bael didn't immediately resume his slumber. Instead, he sat on his divine throne, his gaze sweeping over his domain.

Differing from all other Old Gods, Baldur didn't conceal his presence nor did he deliberately avoid the sight of the Perfect Humans. Occasionally, when the mood struck him, he would even visit the city center to receive the adoration of the masses.

Everything appeared as it had in ancient times, save for the fact that the Perfect Humans no longer possessed free will or thoughts of their own.

Their spirits had been saturated by Baldur's power. Though they still breathed, the sole distinction between them and the dead was that they continued to provide him with faith.

This was the second solution to the contamination of the Perfect Humans: by completely controlling their spirits and turning them into living dolls, they would never go mad or succumb to the madness of spiritual corruption, sparing the Old Gods from their affliction.

Yet, his ilk seemed to have their own ideas, rejecting this convenient method. They even doted on these ants as if they were kin, something Baldur found incomprehensible.

Ants were still ants, no matter how much they could aid and entertain the Old Gods. They could never stand alongside them. Why couldn't his kind understand this simple truth?

But it was thanks to their soft hearts that Baldur's plan could proceed smoothly.

Scanning the city with his gaze, Baldur confirmed that everything remained as it was during his slumber before retracting his eyes and directing them towards the murals inscribed within the temple.

The temples that once housed the Old Gods were built long ago by the Perfect Humans to please them. The walls were adorned with murals depicting myths fabricated by the Perfect Humans.

Baldur's name derived from Odin's eldest and second son in Norse mythology, the God of Light and the God of Darkness. One was beloved, while the other was more solitary. However, in the initial myths of the Dream World, these two gods were, in fact, one and the same Old God.

Baldur's gaze fell upon the ancient murals, as if he were looking through them into that distant era. The stories depicted on these frescoes were not entirely the same as those on Earth. Due to Baldur's connection with light, he was referred to as the God of Light by the Ancients. As for the Dark God, it was because of his wanton slaughter of the Ancients that he inspired fear, though they did not believe Baldur was responsible. Instead, they perceived them as two aspects of a single deity. Some of the Old Gods had a fondness for mythological rituals, but Baldur was not one of them. In his view, such rituals were nothing but futile attempts by the Ancients to define and restrict the gods with their myths. How could a god be defined by mortals? What right did these insignificant lives have to compare themselves to the Old Gods? However, there was still some utility in the mythological rituals. With a casual gesture, Baldur eradicated these outdated murals, replacing them with new ones etched using the power of light. The origins closely tied to Norse mythology were wiped away, giving way to a novel mythological system on the walls. The monotheistic Hebrew mythology. All polytheistic mythologies on Earth were somehow connected to the Dream World's origins, except for the Hebrew mythology, or rather, Jesus or Jehovah. In the Dream World, there existed no corresponding Old God for this system. That was because the religion, its myths, and the Bible were all part of a scheme Baldur had set in motion on Earth. He desired to be the sole deity in the Dream World, with no equal worthy of standing beside him.

Even if it meant allying with an evil deity, even if it required sacrificing all the Old Gods and the Perfects, he would not hesitate.

A soft glow flickered in Balder's eyes. He had prepared extensively over the years to become a legitimate God, be it spreading the Bible's mythology in the human world, eradicating the influence of the Three Sages among humans, or orchestrating the current setup with the carrion crows in the Dream World.

Just as the time for reaping his rewards was drawing near, an unexpected newborn Shepherd emerged, wielding the power of "Gates."

Those who suddenly claimed to be investigators were likely pawns sent by this newcomer to the Dream World.

Balder could roughly guess what his younger sibling aimed to do: to rally all the Perfects and thus break the current deadlock, swaying the Old Gods to his side.

How laughably naive. Though the Old Gods were at a loss regarding the Perfects' situation, it didn't mean they would trust this newborn Shepherd. After all, He couldn't even guarantee His own safety, let alone protect so many Perfects.

Those who styled themselves as guardians and established the Council of Thirteen Perfects—how could they allow the Perfects to board His sinking ship?

Balder had no intention of intervening personally, for he knew that his dear fellow deities were still watching from the sidelines, including those he had secretly contacted. The Old Gods couldn't afford to appear before the Perfects carelessly, lest they risk contamination. However, if the Shepherd truly intended to bring the Perfects to Earth, those observing deities would undoubtedly intervene. And should that new Shepherd make an appearance, it might present a golden opportunity... to eliminate them all at once.