Chapter 1583: Chapter 274: The Sun Veils the Stars
Looking at the complex expression on Hero Ismael’s face, mixed with sadness, reluctance, and relief, Aiwass guessed what he was thinking.
"No, there isn’t any ordained savior."
Aiwass sighed and shook his head slightly.
He indeed now possesses the power to change all of this, but it’s neither inherited from his parents nor from a family legacy, nor is it a reward from a monarch or a god... Instead, through repeated reincarnations, relying on the great pain and sacrifice of "self" to accumulate advantages for himself.
The only external force here is probably the initial self-sacrifice made by Amber. It was because of Amber’s sacrifice of self that these subsequent possibilities arose.
It’s like in a rogue-like game, where every death can earn out-of-game growth. Accumulate enough out-of-game growth, and then when you enter the game again, you cannot say these stats are unfair—it’s all built upon time and effort, a mountain of corpses piled from countless deaths.
What kind of pain did the former Serpent Celestial Marshal endure?
In order to find a way to salvation from a hopeless future, he was once very lost. He almost traversed all nine Paths to finally find the correct direction.
——Then, in order for the world to reach the right place, he even sacrificed himself.
If the "savior" is a space-probing rocket, then he is the rocket’s booster. To help the rocket rise higher, he chooses to burn himself out, falling into the void.
"I completely understand you, Ismael."
Aiwass slowly said, "But it’s not only the ’legendary savior’ who can save the world. It’s those who save the world that can be called saviors. Don’t believe too much in prophecy, just as you shouldn’t believe what others say.
"Even in the words of your loved ones, there are lies and biases mixed in. How can you be sure that what the prophet saw perfectly aligns with the future? How can you be sure that he completely described what he saw?
"Did he, born in the past, know everything future people will face? Did he fear the future and add his own interpretation to it? Would he modify his prophecies just to lead others’ actions, or cause chaos, bury hope?"
Aiwass looked at Ismael, softly saying, "You yourself are Benevolent Lords. Have you ever been in a situation where you knew some bad news yet chose to hide or amend it? The prophet is the same. Because you have your personal biases, so does the prophet. Therefore, prophecies are not credible.
"If you believe in prophecy entirely, it’s equivalent to giving up personal effort. Because the ’day of prophecy’ has not arrived. In the past, the Benevolent Lords hoped their slaves would think this way and give up resistance... but who would have thought even the future Benevolent Lords would believe in the prophecy, how laughable."
Hearing Aiwass’s words, Hero Ismael widened his eyes slightly.
He had never considered such a situation.
How could the prophet... be wrong?
Or rather, as long as it’s a Parthian, they wouldn’t genuinely question the prophecies in "Parthia." It’s something engraved in the foundations of their culture, a handbook for explaining the world around them.
Despite being called a "Hero," in reality, Ismael is one of the few Benevolent Lords who loves reading.
He has read numerous books, including those left by the ancient Winged Ones, as well as rare classics plundered from other nations. Before meeting Aiwass, he considered them superstition... but after truly encountering the "King of Indigo," he instinctively questioned the knowledge he’d acquired.
"I indeed can change all this, Ismael."
Aiwass said earnestly, "But that’s not because I am some destined savior, but because I have the power to change all this. If your strength surpasses mine, then you too can achieve it.
"To put it another way, just because you aren’t a savior, does that mean you can’t do anything? Suppose that in a month, all Parthians were to be liberated... those who would have died in the war at Ark City, but survived to see that day because of your virtuous governance—do they not exist?
"——They survived because of you, didn’t they? To them, is it you or the ’savior’ that saved them? If you also completely believe in prophecy and do nothing, could they survive? In fate and prophecy, should they exist or not?"
Hearing Aiwass’s words, Hero Ismael’s fingers trembled slightly.
His mouth opened and closed slightly, like a fish on the verge of dying. His chest heaved intensely, his emotions in turmoil.
From a rational perspective, he felt what Aiwass said was correct. Yet it nearly denied everything he understood from the past... As a Transcendent on the Path of Dusk, such a drastic change was excruciatingly painful; but simultaneously, as a Transcendent on the transcendence, this change in perception brought intense comfort.
"The Sun’s radiance obscures the stars, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist under the daylight... is that so?"
Ismael murmured.
He raised his head to look at Aiwass.
Aiwass stood facing the Light, his entire body bathed in solar flames, radiating Radiance... appearing like a god.
Yet he showed no aggression, instead lowering his head to smile at him, extending his hand to pull him up.
"No need to kneel, Ismael. Never again."
Aiwass spoke lightly, "Just as you need not kneel to me, the slaves need not kneel to you either."
"...Is there something you plan to do?" Ismael felt he was like a child.
Not only was there a significant disparity in strength, but also in insight and courage. This reminded him of how he survived awkwardly before his cruel and capricious father as a child.
He immediately instinctively altered his words, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"If there’s something to be done... then assist me. If there’s any news, remember to report it to me."
Aiwass said casually, "They might oppose me."
The "they" here referred to the other Benevolent Lords.
Saying so, Aiwass glanced at the others who were in a "End of Civilization" state, "Anyway, they can’t hear. You can just say you were petrified along with them.
"As for me... I intend to abolish slavery."
Aiwass said warmly, "I don’t want to be someone who judges the systems and cultures of other civilizations from on high, thinking that what’s different from my own is wrong. I just think... no matter what meaning it once had, a bad thing is a bad thing, a backward thing is a backward thing.
"Not to mention that now it even lacks meaning—slavery in the past was to facilitate offering to the Abyssal Celestial Envoy, to help everyone survive. But now, even the Abyssal Celestial Envoy himself is to be dragged down and killed... and the system established in his name has instead become a ’memorial’ for convenient governance?
"Since the problem exists, it should be resolved. Future problems, we’ll deal with in the future. Never dream of a one-time solution, nor ignore the pressing maladies, thinking ’it’s always been this way.’
"——Don’t you think so, Ismael?"