WCBD CH132

Chapter 132: The Fall of the Old Gods

“It was also a snowy day,” Fred said. “It happened in weather similar to what we’re experiencing now. Ten years ago, trains weren’t as convenient as they are today, so we got stranded in the middle of our journey.

“…It wasn’t even a problem with the train tracks; it was just heavy snow that made it impossible for the train to move forward. We were stuck there for several days, and everyone was discouraged and disheartened.

“That old man, he told me to call him Edwin. Edwin was already in his sixties then, and the days the train was stopped there were excruciatingly difficult for him. That’s why he struck up a conversation with me, a fellow passenger in the same cabin.

“At that time, I had just taken over the family business and traveled to a northern country to negotiate a deal, but didn’t get any good results and had to return alone. I was very lost… I don’t know if you can understand this feeling.

“I really wanted to hear some older people talk back then. I always felt they could give me some reasonable advice, or at least share their life experiences. It might not actually help, but at least it was someone’s past experience. However, I was too embarrassed to admit this.

“Anyway, we chatted for a while then. I also shared some of my family troubles. Perhaps because of this, Edwin felt our relationship had grown closer.

“Therefore, he wanted to tell me some things before he died… not necessarily me, specifically. It was just that I happened to be by his side at that time, so he could only tell me.”

Speaking of this, Fred couldn’t help but pause. He looked at the dying flame in the stove. After a moment, he said, “At that time, Edwin’s life was also like this flame, about to extinguish.”

Siles hesitated and finally said in a low voice, “So, you are actually very clear that everything Edwin said was true.”

Fred froze for a moment, then slowly nodded. When he admitted this, he felt somewhat relieved, yet simultaneously heavier. He smiled bitterly, and after a moment, said, “That is true, but…

“But, things aren’t that simple either. Edwin actually wanted me to solve this mystery for him, but I… it’s impossible for me to do that. I am just an ordinary person.

“And the things he said, they were just too unbelievable… too unbelievable. It was as if the world suddenly changed its face in that instant. What was originally peaceful and gentle was now ferocious and violent.

“How could the world be like this… I couldn’t believe it. But, I did indeed learn of Edwin’s experience. The ocean, the shadow, the writhing terrifying past…”

He murmured. It was evident that after so many years, the train’s suspension had made him think back to everything that happened ten years ago. It was something unforgettable that had truly occurred.

Siles waited patiently.

After a while, Fred snapped back to reality. He apologized to Siles and calmed down completely. He said, “What Edwin told me was mainly about the shadow in the ocean. He said he saw it while in a very strange state.

“He went to the seaside at the time… it was Middleton, the very Middleton that foreigner mentioned just now. He went to one of the prosperous port cities in Middleton; I don’t remember exactly which one.

“His health was already poor, and he wasn’t accustomed to the coastal climate, so he soon fell seriously ill. For a period of time, he lingered on his last breath, to the point where he didn’t even want to keep living.

“So he wanted to throw himself into the sea to commit suicide. That’s what he thought, and one night, he went to do it in a daze.

“But, when he stepped into that freezing seawater, he suddenly snapped back to his senses, feeling as if he could see a massive shadow beneath the sea surface in the night…

“And if he walked in, it would be like a sheep entering a tiger’s den, walking right into his death. He would be swallowed by that shadow; not even his soul could escape.

“This terror made him decide to return to land. It even surpassed his fear of death… No, I should say, he wasn’t afraid of death anymore, but… but that shadow was far more terrifying than death.

“He said he didn’t know how he got back to the shore, only remembering panic, unease, and terror. When he woke up, he was lying face down on the beach, coughing violently.

“After that, he hurriedly left that place. But he still couldn’t forget what happened that night. He drew countless pictures in a notebook, all depicting his experience that night.

“…When we parted ways, he was already extremely weak. He said he didn’t plan to go home, but intended to find a place outside to meet his death. Before leaving, he gave me that notebook and entrusted me to burn it.

“He told me not to open that notebook no matter what. He said this was his final dying wish. But… but I failed to do it. Before actually burning it, I still took a look… I still took a look!

“I really shouldn’t have looked, truly. Sir, I really shouldn’t have. I clearly knew it was wrong, but I still did it. I took one look, and then that shadow will follow me for the rest of my life.

“That happened ten years ago, but even though ten years have passed, even though I have achieved success and fame, even though that old man’s bones have probably turned to ash by now, I am still tormented by this matter, forever and ever…”

Fred muttered, his expression gradually wilting. He seemed inevitably affected by this matter, especially his Will.

Siles watched him silently. Finally, he said, “Regardless, Mr. Fred Dudley, you have successfully made it through these ten years. There is no need to dwell on those past matters anymore.”

“…I’ll borrow your auspicious words,” Fred said with a bitter smile. “I hope I can manage. Also…”

He was silent for a while and finally said, “Thank you very much for being willing to listen to this secret of mine. Perhaps the time has finally come when it’s hard to keep silent about this secret kept for ten years.

“Just like Edwin back then, I also just needed someone to listen to this story at exactly the right moment.

“…Perhaps I shouldn’t speak out of turn. But, I don’t want you to fall into a situation similar to Edwin’s just out of curiosity about the ocean. That is truly…”

He didn’t continue, but bid Siles farewell and left the room.

Once he left, Chendo walked in. He asked, “How did it go?”

Siles relayed Fred’s account to Chendo, pondered for a moment, and finally said, “It’s the ocean of Middleton again. I think that place probably hides many unknown secrets. Chendo, I remember you saying you’ve been to Middleton?”

“Yes,” Chendo said. “Many explorers in the Ashless Lands come from Middleton. Moreover, the Praia family also has some assets in Middleton. I occasionally need to go to Middleton.”

“But from your previous descriptions, it’s hard for me to feel Middleton’s… mystery?”

Siles used this word, but then shook his head, feeling it wasn’t quite fitting.

He described it instead, saying, “I just feel that Middleton… a coastal country with a developed fishing industry, a country that still worships Amois and is very martial… Even though in all rumors, the residents of Middleton worship Amois, people don’t seem to consider it a country very strongly colored by the ‘Old Gods’.”

Chendo nodded; he understood what Siles meant. He said, “Exactly. People all feel that Middleton is a very secular country, a… less crazy country without many Old God followers.”

But, Siles thought, this paradoxically didn’t match the endless ocean legends. He had already heard many bizarre tales about the ocean. Yet Middleton, which was directly related to the ocean, still lived in a sort of secular, ordinary state?

This was somewhat contradictory.

In the end, Siles just said, “We can’t just speculate here. Perhaps later we can ask the guide and the translator to inquire about Middleton’s history and past.”

Chendo also agreed with this idea.

He then said, “It’s getting late, you should rest early. We have to head to Biedel City tomorrow.”

Siles snapped back to reality, checked the time, and found it was almost ten o’clock. He couldn’t help but say, “I know. Chendo…”

He was about to tell Chendo to rest early too, but stopped when he looked up and saw Chendo’s expression. After a moment, he said with some confusion, “Chendo?”

Chendo was gazing at him intently. He said, “In a few days, we’ll be separated. I’ve already started missing you.”

Siles only then belatedly realized this. He said, “We can still meet in dreams.”

“…Even so, even so,” Chendo said softly. “If I can’t embrace you in reality, I feel my life is going to wither.”

“I’m still here, Chendo,” Siles said. “We won’t be separated for too long.”

Chendo hugged him and nuzzled Siles’s shoulder. He muttered reluctantly, “I really hope this winter passes quickly… No, I really hope you can return from Middleton sooner.”

Siles was both amused and exasperated. He hadn’t even reached Middleton yet, and Chendo was already urging him to come back quickly.

After a while, he said, “You should look forward to the Middleton trip arriving faster.”

“…Why?” Chendo asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Because… shortly after I return from Middleton,” Siles said, “you will get your wish.”

Chendo froze for a moment, then sighed even more, “Then I really am becoming more and more impatient.”

Siles couldn’t help but laugh.

He said, “Let’s go, Chendo, head back and rest early.”

When they went back, Professor Bella happened to be announcing tomorrow’s departure time. They would set off for Biedel City at past two o’clock tomorrow afternoon, which perfectly allowed them to finish lunch at the Conrad Hotel.

This timing also made Lorenzo breathe a sigh of relief. He looked completely unready for sleep, only wanting to continue reveling outside. However, no one stopped him from doing so.

The first floor was still bustling and noisy, but the third floor had fallen quiet. Siles finally decided to sleep in Chendo’s room and spend the night with his lover. Two beds; it was perfect.

This made him feel as if he had returned to the feeling of his first time arriving in Maltz and heading to the Ashless Lands. At that time, he and Chendo were still very unfamiliar with each other, but times had changed, and the situation was completely different now.

“Good night, Chendo,” he said.

Chendo rolled over and saw Siles’s silhouette in the darkness. He stared blankly for a while, feeling that a beautiful dream had come true, feeling dreamlike and surreal. The rose obtained from Akamara’s power was placed on the nightstand; Chendo had specifically packed and brought it along when he left home.

Finally, he whispered, “Good night, Siles.”

The next morning, they both woke up just past seven o’clock. During the morning, they were dragged by Chester and Lorenzo to play cards. Lorenzo said they shouldn’t work so hard when traveling, and Chester said appropriate relaxation was necessary.

Siles couldn’t refute their words, and besides, Chendo was also happy to see it happen. So they played cards all morning, while also being watched by other people in the hotel.

Some people clearly knew of the existence of Noel Cards, and seeing them play cards in the hotel restaurant made their own hands itch, leading them to form other card groups.

The professors of Lamifa University and the knights and investigators of the Church of the Past had already learned how to play back on that train. Now, they were thoroughly familiar with it, even explaining the rules to some curious people who didn’t know how to play.

Siles finished a game of cards, looked up at his surroundings, and suddenly felt this scene was unexpectedly familiar.

…Yes, it was that wondrous and surprising feeling he had when he, Chendo, and the guide Mary returned from the mineral vein near the House of Hales and saw the first floor of the House of Hales Pavilion full of card players.

Some people got hot-headed playing cards and wanted to gamble for money, but explorers from the Ashless Lands educated them, saying that Noel Cards hid secrets related to the deities, so they couldn’t be associated with money, or else they would be cursed.

Thus, those who wanted to gamble immediately backed down.

However, Siles himself felt a little surprised because of this. He hadn’t expected his initial statement to ultimately evolve into this.

But Chendo wasn’t surprised. He whispered to Siles, explaining that anything related to the Old Gods would ultimately inevitably be linked to “curses”.

After all, sometimes people wanted to do bad things but didn’t dare expose themselves blatantly, so they could only borrow the name of the “Old Gods” and blame everything on “the curse of the Old Gods”.

“That’s how things are,” Chendo revealed an icy smile. “You can’t rely on the moral bottom line of those explorers. Of course, when it comes to Fate Cards, this practice might actually be a good thing.”

Siles froze slightly and ultimately couldn’t help but sigh.

The morning passed quickly. At noon, after having lunch at the Conrad Hotel’s restaurant, they headed to the railway station and boarded the train to Biedel City.

After settling down on the train, Siles also found an opportunity to chat with the accompanying guide and translator.

The guide and translator arranged by Lamifa University were not internal staff of the university, but professionals hired from outside. They both had a certain understanding of Middleton.

In fact, even though the vast majority of people didn’t know of Middleton’s existence, people from Middleton, or those who had interactions with Middleton, were not a small number.

For example, the owner of that seafood restaurant in Lamifa City’s Atherton Central Square was from Middleton.

Lamifa University had probably used certain channels to find this guide and translator who knew Middleton well enough to accompany the other professors on the trip to Middleton. At least in terms of arrangements, this journey was adequately prepared.

Both of these men were male. The guide, named Isaac Cobden, was a rather strong, tall man; the translator, named Johnny Hoyt, was a thinner, more silent man.

Their presence wasn’t very prominent along the way, as they would only serve a purpose after arriving in Middleton. Most of the time, Siles could only see them communicating with each other in a very unfamiliar language. He thought that might be the language of Middleton.

Siles’s initiative to strike up a conversation surprised them both slightly. The guide Isaac offered, “Hello, Professor Noel. Is there something you need?”

His Konst language was also very fluent, sounding like a native tongue.

“I am very curious about Middleton. In a few days, we will arrive in that land,” Siles said. “But until now, I don’t know much about Middleton. Do you know Middleton well?”

“You could say that; we both used to be residents of Middleton,” Isaac said. “Johnny and I came to Konst together. We were still young back then. A famine broke out in our hometown, so we went out wandering together.

“We headed south because the weather was very cold at that time, and it would be a bit warmer heading south. After a while, we arrived in Konst and settled down here. In fact, this would be our first time returning to Middleton after many years.

“…We also feel nervous.”

As he spoke, he also looked at the passing scenery outside the window. It was already late February. Even though they had just been trapped by a blizzard not long ago, in reality, the weather was indeed going to become warmer. Except they were about to head north.

Retracing the route Isaac and Johnny once wandered.

Siles was slightly surprised to learn this. He thought, Famine? That was probably over ten years ago. But Middleton borders the sea. Even if there was a shortage of grain, the residents should have been able to go out to sea and fish, which ought to have covered their daily food needs.

…Was it because there was a problem with the ocean itself? Did some factor affect Middleton’s fishing industry?

Just like what that person from Middleton had said during the fireside chat, about fishermen going out to sea and encountering strange scenes, causing them to hurriedly leave Middleton with their families… Such incidents probably occurred frequently.

Although the residents of Middleton worshiped the ocean, they likely also feared it. However, this was all hidden within that deep-rooted faith. After all, for believers, even if the deity is cruel, they cannot leave such a deity.

However, Siles didn’t press the matter, because Isaac in front of him didn’t seem too keen on discussing it. Isaac asked, “What do you want to know?”

Siles then said, “I have never heard of Middleton’s existence before. What is the history of this country like?”

Isaac seemed not to expect Siles to ask this question. He scratched his hair and said somewhat awkwardly, “I didn’t go to school much in the past, Professor. Johnny?”

He turned to his companion for help.

The translator clearly had a good level of literacy. After thinking for a while, he said, “Middleton was established during the Age of Silence, and this country has continued until the Age of Mist… Rather than a country, a more accurate description would be an alliance.”

“Yes, yes,” Isaac seemed to suddenly realize, adding, “Every tribe is relatively independent.”

Johnny’s explanation was more detailed: “The country of Middleton is an alliance in the form of tribal units. Although the government in the capital indeed manages the entire nation, every tribe possesses a certain degree of autonomy.

“…I should say, it’s precisely because of this format that Middleton has been able to continuously survive from the Age of Silence to the Age of Mist. Many things happened in between—some tribes may have collapsed, some may have prospered, some may have been replaced…

“But Middleton has always existed, and will always exist.”

Beside him, Isaac also nodded in agreement.

Their attitudes carried a very matter-of-fact confidence in Middleton. It should be said that even if Middleton could indeed be divided into different, independently existing tribes, the residents of all tribes highly recognized the concept of “Middleton”.

This sense of identity did not come from Middleton’s government.

From Isaac and Johnny’s attitudes just now, it was also evident that they held no awe for the “capital’s” existence. What they truly recognized was only the country of “Middleton” itself.

…Faith was what truly forged this nation.

Siles tried to ask these two about the significance of Amois to Middleton, but they couldn’t give a clear explanation.

They had left Middleton when they were very young, so they weren’t particularly knowledgeable about the current situation of Middleton, nor about the deeper levels of Middleton’s faith.

However, they did mention that the adults in Middleton indeed possessed a very firm faith in Amois. And children usually followed in the adults’ footsteps in ignorance when they were very young.

“Don’t they think that Amois has already fallen?” Siles couldn’t help but ask in confusion.

Isaac and Johnny exchanged a glance and simultaneously shook their heads. They said in unison, “But the ocean is eternal.”

Siles froze. Even having left their homeland for so long, the underlying nature of these two men was still Middleton, and they also still possessed that absolute, firm faith of Middleton.

…But the ocean is eternal. Siles thought to himself, Middleton’s faith in Amois, on a practical level, seemed closer to people’s primitive worship of the ocean.

Because that place existed, and had always existed since ancient times, people revered that eternal natural power, and this reverence was continuously and solidly passed down within this identical cultural sphere.

Having learned this, he temporarily couldn’t learn more from these two. They gave Siles a general overview of the current situation in Middleton and a few well-known tribes.

Overall, Middleton was located to the east of the northern sea, embedded like a crescent moon on the southeast side of the ocean. Its territory was a very long and narrow shape, stretching from the southwest to the northeast, with its northernmost point almost reaching the distant polar tundra.

That sea was named the Faliou Sea by the residents of Middleton. This name was a transliteration; in the language of Middleton, it meant cold, while also carrying a sense of an icy attitude.

Johnny provided an extra explanation for this name, saying it was called this because this ocean had swallowed the lives of countless Middleton residents. After all, at the same time, Middleton also truly depended on the Faliou Sea.

Due to the narrow and long territory, the composition of its administrative divisions was a very simple horizontal slicing, much like cutting a baguette. About twenty or so tribes made up Middleton, and the capital, Bethune, was located in the center of Middleton.

Isaac introduced for Siles, “This time, we will travel via Kansas to arrive at the southernmost port city of Middleton, named Kingsley. This city belongs to the strongest tribe in the south, Basil.

“In the past, Kingsley was a very prosperous port, practically the shipping transit center for the entire northern hemisphere of the Fisher World. However, that was before the Age of Silence.

“Now, that city is somewhat dilapidated, with no large cargo ships coming and going. The port there provides shipping services for travelers like us. We can take a steamship there to get to Bethune. It will probably take two to three days.”

Siles calculated the time.

From Maltz to Biedel, it would take them three days and two nights; from Biedel to Kingsley, because of intermediate stops to let passengers off, it might take them about five days; then from Kingsley to Bethune, another two to three days.

Calculating the whole trip like this, just to get to Bethune in Middleton, they needed around twelve days. And they planned to stay in Bethune for a week.

…In other words, their schedule was so tight that a day or two after returning to Lamifa City, they would have to face the third semester.

The arrangement of this trip was, of course, a detour, but it was impossible for them to travel directly from Konst to Middleton. If they didn’t go to Biedel City to transfer trains, they could only travel by carriage, which would be even longer and less comfortable than the train.

This point couldn’t help but make Siles feel helpless.

Fortunately, he planned to stay in Kansas for a while on the return trip, so he wouldn’t have to go to Biedel City to transfer. At the same time, he could also experience Chendo’s wondrous power of accelerating travel.

…Honestly, in this era, Ligadia’s power was truly very convenient, at least when it came to traveling.

He bid farewell to the guide and translator, and then returned to his cabin.

They were still riding on the Light of First Snow train, which meant four-person sleeper compartments. Thus, the occupants of this cabin were Siles, Chendo, Chester, and Lorenzo.

It was still very much in line with the scene when Siles first went to the Ashless Lands, except Alva had been replaced by Lorenzo.

Siles shared with them some of the information he had learned about Middleton. He said thoughtfully, “It seems Middleton’s history is older than Konst’s.”

Chester said, “Professor, you’re definitely thinking of going to Middleton to find books to read again.”

Siles froze slightly, then maintained an irrefutable silence.

In fact, one thing he regretted immensely was that when he went to search for the Darrow family’s information, he didn’t bring out more books from that storage room.

Although he knew clearly that he didn’t have much time, those were still precious collections he couldn’t bear to miss out on.

…He wondered if it was still possible to ask Carol to get another authorization letter.

However, by comparison, the bigger problem with the books from Middleton was that he couldn’t find a suitable and reliable translator to explain their contents to him.

Chendo knew the Kansas and Konst languages, but he was powerless when it came to the language of Middleton. He only knew a small amount of everyday vocabulary, which was insufficient for deciphering those profound technical terms.

Regardless, the books from Middleton were a matter for later. Right now, Siles was more focused on their current itinerary.

Soon, Lorenzo and Chester left the cabin. They went to play cards with some newly acquainted card buddies. As they left, Chester was even discussing certain card-playing tricks with Lorenzo.

Siles thoughtfully watched Chester’s departing figure.

Chendo remarked, “The doctor seems to have completely shaken off his past shadows.”

Siles nodded in agreement. The last time he and Chester traveled to Biedel City together, Chester was filled with unease, tension, and panic. He didn’t know what kind of fate he was about to face.

But this time, Chester appeared much calmer and more relaxed. He was here as the accompanying doctor, so as long as no injuries or illnesses occurred within the team, he could easily enjoy this journey.

A distant, unknown country. That was indeed something worth looking forward to. Moreover, the vast majority of the expenses for this trip would be reimbursed by the School of Literature and History. That made it even more perfect.

“So what do you plan to do later?” Chendo asked instead.

Siles didn’t plan to play cards—the main reason being that if he played, he would most likely act as the Croupier, which didn’t hold much interest for him. Besides, he still had some materials to read.

He had to try to finish reading them before parting ways with Chendo, so he could have Chendo help take these materials away when he got off the train, saving Siles the trouble of lugging heavy paper documents to Middleton.

So he thought for a moment and finally said, “I’ll continue reading those archive materials.”

Chendo naturally agreed. He asked, “You mean the materials provided by the Church of the Past regarding the fall of the Old Gods that you mentioned before?”

Siles nodded. He took that stack of materials out of his suitcase and opened them. In between reading, he inadvertently glanced out the window, catching sight of the vast, glowing snowfield.

Further in the distance, the grayish-black mist surged across the horizon. The afternoon sunlight only managed to cast a few rays through that mist. The world remained silent, and it remained shrouded in shadows.

Siles felt a slight daze at this scene. As he read this material—this material about the fall of the Old Gods and the locations where Stardust was scattered—he felt a growing sense of lamentation.

The Age of Silence. An era rendered mute by the successive falls of the deities.

Many deities had actually vanished without a trace before that. For example, Lusmi, the God of Stars and Radiance; for example, Ligadia, the God of Leaving Home and Journeys. In these materials, the “Stardust” of these two Old Gods had never appeared either.

Aside from these more powerful deities now known as the “Old Gods”, the weaker deities received even less attention.

It should be said that starting from the Imperial Era, people gradually stopped paying attention to those weaker deities. Those thirteen powerful Old Gods gradually occupied every aspect of people’s lives, and when They fell, the world naturally underwent drastic changes as well.

The fall of Elco, the God of Wine and Pleasure, raised the curtain on the Age of Silence. And He fell in a place unknown to anyone.

According to this material, the location of Elco’s fall was very likely a location in the ocean still covered by mist today. His “ashes” had never been excavated.

Such a statement caused Siles to feel slight confusion. He couldn’t help but think: since Elco’s Stardust had never been found, just like Lusmi’s and Ligadia’s, did He truly fall?

The attitude of the Old Gods was indeed a tacit acknowledgment that Elco had already fallen, but there was no other circumstantial evidence for this matter.

However, in the Fate Cards created by Mr. Xia, the rule that “the Drunkard card is inevitably replaced by the Chef card” also hinted at Elco’s fall.

Judging from various signs, Elco was a deity who didn’t attract much attention. He became the symbol of festivals, revelry, and pleasure, which were indeed closely related to humanity, but people couldn’t possibly indulge in them every day; they couldn’t constantly hold wild feasts with wine.

In other words, compared to humanity, Elco seemed more closely related to Timiafa. After all, a feast is never complete without a chef.

This “replaceability” also meant that the deity Elco didn’t possess much fame, at least not compared to Timiafa, let alone the gods of life and death.

After Elco, the second deity to fall was Trisli, the God of High Mountains and Rivers.

However, just as people usually only remember the first place and not the second or third, in reality, the time of Trisli’s fall was very close to Elco’s. But people always remember Elco’s fall, yet not Trisli’s.

Trisli fell in the early Age of Silence, possibly only a few decades after Elco. There was no more exact date in historical records. He fell in the Booth Mountains, a magnificent mountain range south of the Ashless Lands.

Some merchants discovered the presence of Stardust there and consequently carried out mining and excavation work. The Church of the Past collected a portion of the Stardust from there and simultaneously discovered that it belonged to Trisli.

Such things were a common occurrence.

The Church of the Past itself controlled the locations of the majority of the Stardust veins while also controlling most of the sales channels for Stardust. Therefore, if a merchant intended to sell Stardust through legitimate channels, they would attentively report to the Church of the Past.

Regardless, the power of Revelators came from Antinam; the vast majority of people were well aware of this.

And this point allowed the Church of the Past to further grasp more information related to the Old Gods, under the premise that they understood the essence of Stardust.

Elco, Trisli… After these two deities, the third deity with a historically recorded fall was Hoodoka, the God of Sin and Lies. He fell in the 134th year of the Age of Silence, and the location of His fall was near the House of Hales.

Siles had once investigated this matter deeply. He knew that Hoodoka’s fall was essentially Him being devoured by Menavaca.

Elco, Hoodoka. These two deities were the Old Gods that Siles knew of who were devoured by other deities. The former’s experience had not been confirmed by relevant materials, but the latter’s was set in stone.

Of course, what exactly that clash between Hoodoka and Menavaca signified, he didn’t know yet.

After Hoodoka, the fall of the Old Gods suddenly stalled. It was about two hundred years later that a group of Old Gods suddenly fell almost simultaneously.

During the two hundred years between the 300th and 500th years of the Age of Silence, Akamara (the God of Dreams and Illusions), Timiafa (the God of Food and Gluttony), Brancani (the God of Asceticism and Silence), and Atkinia (the God of Music and Art) fell one after another.

Akamara fell in the 356th year of the Age of Silence. Before His fall, everyone in the Fisher World was enveloped in nightmares for three whole days. That announced His fall. The location of His fall was right in the Duchy of Konst, even very close to Lamifa City.

It was just that the mist belonging to Akamara also dissipated very quickly. Nowadays, people no longer know that a deity once fell in the Duchy of Konst.

As for Timiafa and Brancani, They both fell around the 400th year of the Age of Silence.

The time and location of Timiafa’s fall were more mysterious, especially the location, which was very likely still shrouded in mist. However, someone had indeed brought out Stardust belonging to Timiafa before; of course, investigations into its source always ended up fruitless.

Timiafa had indeed fallen; this was beyond doubt. But the uncertainty of the time and location was very confusing.

The situation with Brancani was somewhat similar to Timiafa. In external historical records, Brancani had always been a low-key and mysterious deity. Therefore, not many people knew when He fell either.

However, during the investigations of the Church of the Past, they determined the time of Brancani’s fall through the location of His Stardust vein and related rumors in nearby areas.

It was located in the distant northeast of the Duchy of Konst. Many areas there were still covered by mist, but a portion happened to be spared. Some ordinary residents lived there, maintaining a minimal standard of living in the form of villages.

During the Age of Mist, the mist gradually dissipated, so these residents also gradually explored outward. The Church of the Past discovered them, and at the same time, discovered the Stardust belonging to Brancani in that area.

They asked these residents when the mist that once shrouded that Stardust vein had appeared. And some residents who had learned relevant information from their elders answered—the 429th year of the Age of Silence.

The fall of Atkinia was even more mysterious. It was somewhat similar to Akamara, except Akamara spread nightmares in the dreams of all humanity as a sign of His fall.

But when Atkinia fell, almost all of His artist believers heard an inhuman, tragic howl in a trance. That was the 452nd year of the Age of Silence. After that, Atkinia’s Stardust was spread almost all over the Fisher World.

No one knew why Atkinia’s fall was so disastrous. It was as if at the moment of His fall, His “corpse” completely disintegrated.

The fall of Personari, the God of Fertility and Life, was slightly later than these four deities, in the 502nd year of the Age of Silence. And after that were the falls of Thaddeus (the God of Death and Disaster) and Menavaca (the God of Commerce and Oaths); They fell in the 523rd and 567th years of the Age of Silence, respectively.

These three deities all fell in the final hundred years of the Age of Silence.

Menavaca was the latest to fall among the deities with known times of fall. He fell in Tauohetia, the capital of the Sardinian Empire, and that directly caused the annihilation of the Sardinian Empire.

After that, human civilization plunged into decades of chaos, and it wasn’t until the appearance of Antinam, the God of Past and History, that the situation slightly improved.

The falls of Thaddeus and Personari both occurred in the late Age of Silence. For the gods of life and death, even their falls seemed to need to correspond to their immense power—they inevitably had to fall later than the other deities.

The location of Thaddeus’s fall was a desert in the southwest of the Ashless Lands; the location of Personari’s fall was a hilly region in the northwest of the Ashless Lands.

The final deity with an uncertain time of fall was Amois, the God of Warriors and Pirates.

According to the records of some materials, even until the late Age of Silence, the Blessed of this deity could still use His power; however, this deity had already vanished without a trace in the early Age of Silence.

Furthermore, His Stardust had not been found either. Some speculated that it should be somewhere in the ocean shrouded by mist, but this couldn’t be proven either.

In other words, the time of Amois’s fall was very blurry, to the point where people couldn’t even be certain if He truly fell; generally speaking, people tacitly assumed this Old God had already fallen. Even though the residents of Middleton still worshiped the ocean with extreme piety.

Overall, excluding Lusmi, Ligadia, and Amois, whose fall information was unclear, the falls of the remaining ten Old Gods were generally divided into three stages.

The first stage, early Age of Silence: Elco, Trisli, Hoodoka (listed in the order of their falls).

The second stage, mid-Age of Silence: Akamara, Timiafa, Brancani, Atkinia.

The third stage, late Age of Silence: Personari, Thaddeus, Menavaca.

There was a two-hundred-year gap between the first stage and the second and third stages. What exactly happened during these two hundred years was also a question worth pondering.

Furthermore, the three deities who fell in the first stage all seemed to be deities who could potentially be “devoured”.

It was beyond doubt that Hoodoka was devoured, and the possibility of Elco being devoured was also quite high. With Trisli sandwiched between these two deities, one couldn’t help but suspect—was Trisli also devoured, and was that why He fell in the early Age of Silence?

If that was truly the case, then the two hundred years of silence after the first stage seemed even more meaningful.

This obvious stage distribution also reminded Siles of the viewpoint in Professor Cabel’s unpublished paper.

Professor Cabel believed that the Old Gods’ attitudes and stances towards the “shadow” were inconsistent, which caused the complex and intricate situation of the Age of Silence; this point could coincidentally be seen from the different fall times of the Old Gods.

Three stages. Siles thought thoughtfully.

If the “shadow” had appeared since the Age of Shadows, and the Old Gods specifically named that era the Age of Shadows, hiding this secret within it, then the Age of Silence that followed the Age of Shadows was the ultimate outcome caused by the “shadow.”

Which is to say, the successive falls of the Old Gods.

The time of their falls might also reveal the Old Gods’ attitudes toward the “shadow.”

Assuming the “shadow” was manipulating everything behind the scenes, then naturally those hostile to Him would fall first, and those friendly to Him would fall last—but ultimately, why did the Old Gods have to fall?

The premise of all this was that the “shadow” had indeed caused the deaths of these Old Gods; and another tacitly accepted condition was that Antinam, who appeared in the Age of Mist, had nothing to do with these matters.

Siles could continue thinking along the lines of these preconditions, but he also very much wanted to doubt them.

In addition to this, those Old Gods with unclear fall information—Lusmi, Ligadia, and Amois—also caused Siles slight confusion.

Everyone tacitly assumed that the Old Gods had all fallen, but it just had to be these three Old Gods whose time and location of fall could not be confirmed. Did They truly fall, just as everyone tacitly assumed? This question was truly difficult to answer.

If using Antinam’s attitude toward the Praia family as a reference, Siles believed Ligadia had probably fallen, or at least lost contact with the Fisher World. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been Antinam who notified the Praia family about the matter concerning the Old God’s Scion.

…It was like entrusting an orphan, if one used more humanized vocabulary to describe it.

But the problem also lay here. Ligadia had already disappeared as early as the Age of Shadows; how could Antinam, who was born in the Age of Mist, provide relevant revelations to the Praia family?

They didn’t even seem like deities of the same era! Could there really be some connection between the Old Gods and the new god?

Siles suspected this was because of Antinam’s Divine Title. Past and History—that sounded like it would make Antinam omniscient about everything that happened in the past. However, this was merely his unilateral speculation.

As the sky grew dark, Siles looked up from the complex documents and pinched the bridge of his nose. Across from him, Chendo appropriately handed him a cup of warm water.

Siles thanked Chendo, took the cup, and took a couple of sips before saying, “I’ve smoothed out some lines of thought…”

“But there are always many questions,” Chendo said, then laughed teasingly. “I guessed you would say that.”

Siles shook his head helplessly. He said, “Indeed.”

He looked out the window. The night was thick, as if pitch-black ink had been splashed across this massive world… No, it should be said, it was as if this world were just a glass marble, casually tossed into an inkwell by someone.

But who was this “someone”?

Siles snapped back to reality and finally said, “Regardless, we are always getting closer to the truth, not further away. That is enough.”

Chendo nodded in agreement.

This was the night of February 25th. They had spent almost half the day immersed in reading.

Shortly after, Siles and Chendo each washed up and prepared to sleep. Chester and Lorenzo also returned soon after, talking enthusiastically about several rounds of card games they had just played. However, it was late, so they also quickly fell asleep.

Two days later, in the morning, they arrived in Biedel City.

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