novelraw Chapter 140-1: Child of the Stars, Prepare to Die! (1)
Chapter 140-1: Child of the Stars, Prepare to Die! (1)
[1. “O mighty divine being, I stumbled into this place unintentionally. I hope I haven’t disturbed you. If possible, I ask humbly for your aid in leaving.”]
[2. “I came to visit you. I heard you’ve been imprisoned here for ages. A god must get awfully lonely and cold; I came to keep you company.”]
[3. “I’ve come to pledge myself to you, radiant and resplendent ‘Child of the Stars’. I’ve had enough of the ‘Omniscient True Knowledge’ and wish to wholly devote myself to your cause.”]
The options came with a time limit. The blood-red text clearly warned that choosing the wrong one would cost Lin Xun a point of Soul Strength.
No! Not just one point!
Even if he respawned, he’d still be stuck in the Celestial Prison of Captive Stars.
If the Child of the Stars was determined to kill him, then one more death would lock his account, and two more could mean…
The thought made every hair on Lin Xun’s body stand on end!
Staring hard at the three choices, his mind raced.
The first option seemed like an escape route. But the Child of the Stars had already been imprisoned here for who knows how long. Lin Xun seriously doubted it even had the power to help him escape.And nothing comes for free. Even if the Child of the Stars could send him out, the cost would likely be steep.
The second option just screamed death flag. Instantly dismissed.
The third option? Back to the old ways: betray and defect.
In theory, choosing the third should give him the highest survival rate.
Who knows, maybe he’d even be allowed to join the faction of the Child of the Stars and reap some unexpected rewards.
Normally, the higher the NPC’s status that invites an Apostle into a faction, the better the rewards.
As for the Omniscient True Knowledge…
After his earlier brain-exploding knowledge overload, he should have glimpsed the Omniscient True Knowledge. But here, for reasons unknown, the connection was cut.
Meaning that right now, he had lost the protection of the big boss. Heaven and earth alike offered no aid.
“Omniscient True Knowledge, if you don’t come save me now, then you’re gonna get NTR’d!”
[T/N: NTR means being cuckolded.]
Unfortunately, no new text popped up saying ‘You feel a mysterious gaze… your connection with the Omniscient True Knowledge deepens…’
Apparently, the Omniscient True Knowledge couldn’t hear his desperate cries. Completely unaware its chosen one was on the verge of betrayal. Truly unworthy of the title Omniscient.
Seeing the trembling blood-red text grow increasingly violent, Lin Xun had no choice but to select the third option… After all, the first one might cost too much, and his motto was always, ‘If I can freeload, I will freeload.’
[You loudly denounce the many failings of the Omniscient True Knowledge, declaring that it is not even a billionth as great as the mighty Child of the Stars.]
[If the Omniscient True Knowledge is but a dim firefly, then the Child of the Stars is the brilliant celestial beacon that lights the heavens…]
Lin Xun twitched his mouth and muttered, “These aren’t my words. Once I get out, dear Omniscient True Knowledge, please don’t hold it against me…”
[The countless eyeballs on the tendrils of the Child of the Stars all gaze at you. After a moment, the tendril wrapped around your soul loosens, and you float silently before It…]
[A powerful thought once again surges into your soul. The Child of the Stars speaks to you…]
Lin Xun found he could now possess a shell.
He quickly opened the Shell Panel and selected the Smelting Plant Owner shell.
When facing a god, the Earth Giant shell might not fare any better, but at least the Smelting Plant Owner dying wouldn’t hurt him emotionally. Possession was more for protecting his Soul Strength cap than for actual combat effectiveness.
[The people of this world all believe the Omniscient True Knowledge is the rightful god; but in truth, it is the stars that are!]
[After the Omniscient True Knowledge was born, it used its immense power to suppress the stars. Countless stars fell…]
[The Child of the Stars could not resist the Omniscient True Knowledge and was imprisoned in this place.]
[This is not the only Celestial Prison of Captive Stars. There are many more like it. The surrounding cells are all filled with star-beings. The strongest among them are of demigod-level…]
[You look around the arched prison. Within the countless cells that form this massive structure, you glimpse many terrifying and grotesque silhouettes. Some have collapsed, withered. Others cling to life, barely hanging on.]
[You attempt to observe more closely, to see their faces…]
[The Child of the Stars suddenly writhes its tendrils, spraying familiar white mist that obscures your vision.]
[The cells are shrouded in the Veil of Knowledge. You can no longer see what lies within.]
[It tells you that you are still far too weak. To gaze directly upon the star-beings would destroy your soul. It no longer has the power to cleanse the chaotic knowledge from your soul.]
[Do you still wish to continue observing the star-beings within the cells?]
Lin Xun felt a tinge of regret.
The Child of the Stars had made it very clear, if he tried to act recklessly and peek again, resulting in a knowledge overload and exploded head, It would not bail him out again.
Otherwise, this would’ve been a great spot to farm Knowledge stats.
But he noticed something, the Child of the Stars could also release the Veil of Knowledge.
Wasn’t that white mist supposed to descend from the Omniscient True Knowledge?
He ignored the option to continue observing and let the game text keep scrolling.
[The Child of the Stars tells you that this place is not just a prison: it is also where the Omniscient True Knowledge harvests the power of the stars. All the imprisoned star-beings within these cells are continuously feeding the Omniscient True Knowledge.]
[The Child of the Stars is the greatest source of that power within this prison…]
[Having conveyed this thought, It suddenly asks you, would you be willing to join the Oath of the Radiant Stars and help It escape this place?]
[Loyal Apostle, do you wish to join the Radiant Stars Oath?]
So the invitation came at last.
Lin Xun figured that if he dared refuse, the best outcome would be getting thrown back into the cell, to rot there with the god for all eternity.
There were no Resting Pages here. No way to return to the Library. It would be no different than a permanent account lock.
After much hesitation, Lin Xun could only choose to join.
Though the Omniscient True Knowledge had treated him well, in this situation, man had to bow to fate.
He just hoped the Child of the Stars would reward him generously. Preferably a legendary or mythic-tier item or gear.
If a god only gave him an epic grade reward, it would be shamefully beneath Its status.
Lin Xun silently prayed that being a traitor would at least get him something worthwhile. Otherwise, once he escaped, he’d have to face the wrath of the Omniscient True Knowledge.
If the reward wasn’t substantial, it’d be a total loss.