The selection box on the screen faded away, and as Ron made his choice, new text surfaced on the screen:
[You successfully revived from the deep, pitch-black slumber, redescending upon the grand chessboard of the Star Sea.]
[Everything that once did not belong to you has fallen thoroughly into your hands under the exchange of interests. Anger and destruction are surging within your chest; the violent Will touches your nerves...]
[The moment you were reborn into this Star Sea, you felt the terrifying legacy left to you by the previous owner of this body—]
[That is the strong binding of fate and conflict belonging solely to [The Destruction].]
The text on the screen faded, and a new image surfaced:
In the image, Ron was walking out of the raging fire. The one burning in that fire just a moment ago was [The Destruction] Nanook.
The gods had carved a new appearance for Him, pulling Ron back from death into this world. All of [The Destruction] Nanook's vast legacy was handed over to Ron, but this brought a huge problem for him...
The [Salvation] Path was essentially incomplete. After Ron split the [Salvation] Path, this Path had thoroughly fallen into a dilapidated state, completely powerless to be called a complete Fate.
On the other hand, the [Destruction] Path was thoroughly replenished after [The Destruction] Nanook obtained the [Salvation] Lantern. Although everything of [The Destruction] Nanook had now become Ron's possession under the coercion of the Aeons, and the [Destruction] Path was swallowed by [Salvation] because Ron was the dominant consciousness in the fusion of the two Aeons...
This did not mean that the [Salvation] Path had thoroughly gained the upper hand.
After all... it was too dilapidated.
The incompleteness of the [Salvation] Path destined its power to have an upper limit. Although Ron now possessed a relatively complete Path, it was not like when [Harmony] Xipe swallowed [Order] Ena. The [Harmony] Path completely swallowed the [Order] Path; while the Path widened, everything was still under control...
The current [Salvation] Path, because it was too broken, truly found it difficult to suppress the complete [Destruction] Path.
Ron could feel the blazing fire burning in his chest. Slightly lowering his head, he could peek at the gloomy flowing light seeping out of the countless cracks in his divine body.
That dark red flame was obviously not the Holy Light of [Salvation]. It was not the release He had for [Salvation], but rather a completely opposite, more violent force—
This was the backlash that appeared after the [Destruction] Path became turbulent, unable to be completely suppressed and grasped. The scorching heart of fire and countless violent desires poured into Ron's mind. Infinite anger wanted to control His actions, continuing to bring infinite destruction to the world...
If Ron could not completely overcome his own behavior of being bound and driven by the Primum Mobile of the Path, and successfully achieve the total suppression of the [Destruction] Path by the [Salvation] Path, I'm afraid this [Salvation] Path would be thoroughly dyed black. The once brilliant gold Holy Light would eventually turn into dark red Tribulation Fire.
At that time, whether Ron was still the dominator, or whether he was the true controller of this body, would be questionable. After the roots of the Path were twisted, the one existing in the world could no longer be a [Salvation] Ron...
That would only be another [The Destruction] Nanook.
Regardless of whether Ron's consciousness still held the dominant authority at that time, or whether there was still room for [The Destruction] Nanook to manipulate within this shell, the result would become that terrible appearance.
After all... even the Path itself would have turned into the shape of [Destruction]. No matter what, there was no possibility of reversing it.
Looking at the image on the screen, Ron couldn't help but click his tongue, his face showing helplessness.
Although he had expected this situation... Even before he revived, seeing Herta trying to feed the [Destruction] Path to [Salvation] bit by bit in the simulation, he had thought about whether the existence of the [Salvation] Path would be twisted.
Now, reality proved his prediction was completely correct...
After completely swallowing the [Destruction] Path, how could it be just twisted? The [Salvation] Path was almost thoroughly replaced by the shape of [Destruction]!
However, if he wanted to discard the [Destruction] Path, that was also absolutely impossible—
The [Destruction] Path was now thoroughly fused with the [Salvation] Path. These two Paths had already completely merged into one, indistinguishable from each other.
Discarding the [Destruction] Path was essentially no different from discarding the [Salvation] Path... The result for an Aeon who betrayed Their own Path would not be good. Ron had just revived; he couldn't let his hard-earned resurrection coin go to waste in vain.
The image on the screen faded, and a new selection box surfaced:
[You who returned from suicidal death feel a tremendous change... The [Destruction] Path is thoroughly indistinguishable from the [Salvation] Path. The burning Tribulation Fire burns in your chest. For the first time, you feel the violence and anger of the [Destruction] Path itself.]
[The Primum Mobile from the [Destruction] Path is driving your actions, forcing you to uphold this Path... The power of [Salvation] is fragmented, powerless to thoroughly suppress [Destruction]. You have been forced into the current desperate situation—]
[The severe binding from Fate makes it difficult for you to move a single step. You almost possess the ability to uphold the Primum Mobile of the Path. Free will is temporarily drifting away from you. You must think of a way to control the power within your body...]
[Whether it obeys you, or you obey it.]
[At this moment where your mind intersects with [Destruction], you decide to make your resolution—]
[1. Comply with the Primum Mobile of [Destruction].]
[The [Destruction] Path has already thoroughly fused with the [Salvation] Path. You are clear that you can no longer split these two Paths apart... The consequences of violating the Primum Mobile of the Path have long been verified by others; you absolutely do not wish to repeat the downfall of [The Propagation] Tayzzyronth. There are still too many things you need to do after returning from resurrection. Now is not the time for you to violate Fate and martyr yourself...]
[You decide to comply with the movement of the [Destruction] Path, allowing that blazing Tribulation Fire to burn in your heart. You will go along with the anger and destruction in your heart, thoroughly mastering your Fate...]
[Selecting this option, the [Salvation] Path will undergo irreversible changes. Your Path will turn into a new appearance, thoroughly renewed, becoming a brand new Fate. You trigger the event: "Snuff Out the Lantern."]
[2. Violate the Primum Mobile of [Destruction].]
[You know that the [Destruction] Path has thoroughly fused with [Salvation], but you are absolutely unwilling to let yourself live on by letting the violence cover your body, becoming a new Natural Disaster of the Star Sea.]
[You are clear... the fire of [Salvation] is only dim, not unlit. This Star Sea just hasn't been illuminated for a moment, hope just hasn't risen from people's hearts yet.]
[If even the lantern bearer snuffs out the wick of the lantern at this moment, when can that Star Sea wait for a person to hold the lamp? When will it be able to survive countless disasters and live a peaceful life again?]
[You absolutely cannot be the person who betrays [Salvation]... If the disaster of [Destruction] has not yet disappeared after Nanook's death, and the hope of your resurrection has not yet descended to the world, then does Nanook's death truly mean he died? What is the meaning of your resurrection?]
[You decide to stand tit-for-tat against the Primum Mobile of [Destruction], resisting the anger surging in your chest, maintaining the purity of the [Salvation] Path...]
[Selecting this option, the [Salvation] Path will forcefully maintain its original appearance. You will begin to severely reject the [Destruction] Path. Your shell will lose the power of the [Destruction] Path due to the clash of Paths, and the binding from Fate will drag you into a state of eternal damnation.]
[You trigger the event: "Burn Out the Lantern."]
[3. Perhaps, you can try a compromise...]
[The [Destruction] Path has already thoroughly merged with the [Salvation] Path. This is a reality that cannot be changed.]
[Perhaps as early as when you swallowed a part of the Path fragments from [Destruction] when you ascended to Godhood, everything that is happening now was destined. The theories of this Path, although seemingly split from [Salvation], are strangely compatible and fused together inexplicably... They must have something in common.]
[You are clear that wanting to violate the Primum Mobile of the Path is nothing but a fantasy. Although this method can allow the [Salvation] Path to maintain its purity, the price must be your life.]
[But if you were to completely obey the Primum Mobile of the [Destruction] Path, that is also something you absolutely cannot do... What this Path represents is pure disaster and destruction. You are unwilling to bring suffering to this world, nor should you bring suffering to this world.]
[So... why not try a compromise?]
[Whether it is anger or destruction, when these disasters fall upon the innocent, they are terrifying calamities. But when they fall upon the wicked, they become the proper punishment...]
[You decide to find a disaster that harms the universe, and then pour all your desire for destruction and anger onto it, dragging out enough time without harming this Star Sea, gradually attempting to thoroughly grasp the power of [Destruction].]
[Selecting this option, your [Salvation] Path will inevitably become extreme again, advancing one step further towards the extreme of the "Sword of Salvation" under the influence of the [Destruction] Path.]
[You will trigger the event: "Let the Lantern Start a Prairie Fire."]
---o---
Looking at the selection box on the screen, Ron felt somewhat helpless.
Option 1 was impossible. He absolutely could not completely obey the Primum Mobile of the [Destruction] Path. He wasn't some lunatic; continuing this simulation wasn't for the sake of killing the entire universe, which would be completely meaningless to him.
Moreover, even if he wanted to rely on obeying the Primum Mobile of [Destruction] to survive, it was absolutely impossible... The few Aeons beside him right now weren't vegetarians. Did they really resurrect him just to wholeheartedly treat him well?
This gift was not without a price... They were annoyed to death by [The Destruction] Nanook's harassment. Now that they had finally killed [The Destruction] Nanook with great difficulty, they absolutely would not want to see another [The Destruction] Ron appear.
And Option 2 didn't have much possibility either... Although Ron didn't reject simply letting this simulation end and starting the next game directly, playing poorly in this simulation counted as betraying Herta's hard work.
Choosing Option 2 was a complete "giving up" choice (letting it rot). If he truly ignored everything and died like that by violating the Path, afterwards, this Path would not necessarily give birth to a new Aeon, but would urge forth an even stronger [Destruction]...
To be honest, Ron didn't want to become the one holding everyone back.
It took a lot of effort for this simulation to reach this point of a resurrection coin. No matter what, he had to squeeze a little benefit out of this simulation. Ron absolutely could not rest until then...
Therefore, only Option 3 was the best choice.
Although Ron was already very vigilant against the extremism of the "Sword of Salvation," always feeling that this extreme tendency had gone too far in this extreme direction, highly likely leading to some problems in the future, right now, doing this was merely drinking poison to quench thirst, but Ron had no other way.
Now, he could only take one step at a time...
Even if the extremism of the "Sword of Salvation" could lead to big problems later, so what?
If he didn't do this now, he would have no way to solve the desperate problem of [The Destruction] Path lying across him right now... Ron couldn't give up eating for fear of choking. He couldn't deliberately abandon the help he could get from the "Sword of Salvation" just because its philosophy became extreme.
Thinking this in his heart, Ron clicked on Option 3. The selection box on the screen faded, and new subtitles floated up on the screen:
[You chose to establish a new goal for the desire for destruction and anger in your heart, releasing it reasonably upon the disasters of the Star Sea under your control.]
[You opened your eyes quietly, your line of sight sweeping across the Star Sea. In an instant, you targeted a Star Sea disaster close to you—]
[Several star systems away, the tails of the Xianzhou Yaoqing and Xianzhou Luofu are entwined, engaged in a fierce battle with sky-blotting Beast Ships.]
[The Borisin tribes, under the command of the War Head, are plundering the Star Sea, but on the way to plunder New Belobog, they were ambushed by the Xianzhou Alliance and fell into the encirclement of the Xianzhou Yaoqing and Xianzhou Luofu.]
[But the Borisin are worthy of being Borisin... As a flourishing branch of the Abominations in the Star Sea, even ambushed by the Xianzhou Alliance, the balance of this war is still constantly tilting towards them under their bloody battle.]
[Perhaps eventually there will be a moment when they will tear open a gap in the Xianzhou Alliance's encirclement, escaping to ascend to heaven, continuing their plunder of the various worlds of the galaxy, and preparing for a bloody revenge against the Xianzhou Alliance.]
[The slaughter and hatred between these two great camps will continue for countless millenniums. No one knows when this slaughter and struggle will end...]
[But at this moment, the end of this war has thoroughly begun its countdown.]
[You have locked the target of [Destruction] onto the Borisin.]