I Am God!

Fire-protecting city.

The sun shines diagonally on the palace corridor, and the projections of the pillars move forward along the corridor like stairs.

Alpans walked out of the palace, and his tall figure stood at the door. The morning sun slowly rose, but there was a faint air of twilight about Alpans.

Many things cannot be changed by will and not admitting defeat. The aging and decay of the body are irresistible to mortals.

The waiter brought the basin and told Alpanz it was time to wash it.

Alpanz put his hand into the basin and rubbed his face vigorously.

He held the sides of the basin with his hands and looked at his reflection in the water.

The water waves gradually calmed down, and the appearance gradually became clearer.

"I'm really old."

Although his body is still upright, he is already over one hundred and twenty years old, and wrinkles and brown spots have spread across his body.

It is rare for a snake man to live to his age. He knows that the part of his body that really belongs to him has decayed like a piece of wood that can be broken with a pinch, but the blood-red lines on his back are like This piece of rotten and withered wood was forcibly held together like glue.

"It's time to pay the price."

Facing death, Alpans burst into laughter.

He has nothing to be dissatisfied with, and his life has been extremely glorious.

Everything he wanted to do, everything he could do, he did.

He looked at his reflection in the water. He seemed to be getting younger little by little. His withered white hair was restored little by little, and his wrinkles and brown spots receded little by little. He became the Alpanse he once was in his prime. .

that time.

He was a famous warrior in the city. He defeated famous warriors one after another, and he became the captain of the guard under the Fire Keeper.

He experienced the rebellion, he witnessed the demise of the Fire Keeper family, and he went to the Mountain of Origin to find his own beliefs and future.

He formed alliances with villages and towns one after another during the troubled times, protecting the people who could not resist the plunderers of the animal herder tribe, and finally established the city-state of Suinhor.

Wherever he went, as long as he raised his arms and shouted, thousands of people would follow him.

The title of hero seemed to be specially prepared for him.

Alpanz moved closer with cloudy eyes, trying to take a closer look.

However, when his hand shook, ripples appeared everywhere.

The scene in the water was broken.

Alpans shook his head: "What a glorious life!"

"It's a pity that it didn't have a perfect ending."

He asked the waiters to pack up and walked towards the palace where government affairs were handled.

The so-called failure to draw a happy ending naturally refers to the issue of the heir.

His son Smerkel can be said to be an excellent heir in all aspects. Unfortunately, he grew up in the palace and was not as good as Alpans who came out of blood and fire in many aspects, especially his perseverance. aspect.

But Alpans still hopes that Smerkel can realize his responsibility as the heir to Suinhor City State, and hopes that he can consciously shoulder this responsibility.

But by this time, Alpans couldn't care less.

No matter what Smerkel thought, he had to inherit the throne.

He wants Smerkle back.

He sat down at the table and called to his palace attendant: "Let the prime minister come over."

The attendant on the side said cautiously: "King."

"The Prime Minister has passed away, and you haven't appointed the new Prime Minister yet."

Alpans then remembered that the palace prime minister who had been with him for half his life also passed away this year, but he was still not used to this companion leaving his side.

Alpanz was silent again. He waved his hand and told the attendant to leave.

The King of God's Favorites sat back in his chair, thinking about the problem quietly.

At this time, a noisy sound suddenly came from outside, interrupting Alpans's thoughts.

Alpans walked out and heard cheers and shouts outside.

"what happened?"

The people around didn't know what happened. One of the waiters was about to go to check, when someone ran back from the front.

The other party looked excited and said loudly before he could stop.

"king."

"His Royal Highness is back."

Alpanz's face was filled with relief and joy.

There is only one His Highness in the city-state of Suinhor, and that is Smerkel.

When Alpans heard that his son was back, he did not rush to see Smerkel. Instead, he turned around and returned to the palace.

He straightened his messy hair, then sat at the table and picked up the engraved wood chips. He arranged all these things and then read a leather volume.

The noise outside became louder and louder, but it became quiet again when they reached the door.

Smerkle stepped into the palace and looked at his father.

Alpans, the king of gods, raised his head, glanced at him, and said, "You are back."

Prince Smerkle nodded: "Father, I'm back."

Alpanz waved to him and asked him to sit down at the table.

He looked at his son and couldn't help but laugh.

"Looks pretty good."

"It's a lot darker, so I look like a man."

Smerkel replied: "Of course it's not as good as inside the palace outside."

Alpanz also said: "But ferocious beasts will only be born in the jungle, and only tooth beasts that are used as food will be content in the animal pen."

Immediately afterwards, he asked Smerkel another question.

He first looked at a large basket carried by Smerkle. Smerkel had brought back a lot of things.

"What have you brought back here, and what have you encountered outside in the past few years? Tell me about it."

Smerkel took out the contents of his backpack, including a leather kettle filled with rum, his beloved harp, the Cup of the Sun given to him by Ivar, and a plant called the rope-net vine. .

Smerkle took out everything, starting with his harp.

"I bought this piano when I went to Black Marsh City. It was the first city I went to. I was a little confused at the time, and a sacrificial ceremony to the gods was being held in the city, so I took this piano to participate."

"I also wrote a poem, but it wasn't very good."

Smerkel described his mood at that time, as well as the grand ceremony in the city, and the burning flames were more than ten meters high.

Alpanz listened quietly, without speaking or interrupting, just listening.

Smerkel took out the leather kettle again and asked his father to taste the wine inside. This was wine brewed in Meiya City, where Smerkel stayed all year round.

Meiya City is the largest city outside the Fire Guard City of Suinhor City. They worship the gods extremely and often hold sacrificial activities.

Even many things in the city will be consulted by the gods, and the gods will make decisions. Of course, in the end, the so-called gods' decision is nothing more than divination that relies on fate.

Because sacrifices to the gods are often made, wine is of course a must, so the wine in Meiya City is the best in the city-state.

Smerkel talked about the situation in Meiya City again, and dismissed their divination, thinking it was just a trick played by the city lord.

At this time, Smerkel took out the plant called the rope net vine.

At this time, his expression became much more serious.

"This is something I found in a village in the swamp near the coast outside Black Marsh City. The locals call it the rope net vine."

"The rope they made is completely different from the rope we usually use. It is made of many densely packed ropes that are as small as a human hair and are entangled together. They also use this kind of thing to make nets for fishing in rivers. Or fishing in the sea.”

"And the thing they used to make ropes and nets out of was this thing called rope net rattan."

The fiber of this plant is easy to separate and has good toughness. It is very suitable for making cloth and rope nets. Smerkel felt very special after discovering this plant.

Finished.

Smerkel took out the net and rope made by the locals from his backpack, as well as the small piece of cloth he asked the locals to make.

Calling it cloth is a bit reluctant, because the holes on it are really big.

Alpanz took a look and saw that it was indeed completely different from what they usually used.

Alpans asked Smerkel: "Do you think it has a big effect?"

Smerkel nodded: "Originally I didn't think of its specific function, but I met a person not long ago, a person wearing very gorgeous clothes..."

At this point, Smerkel suddenly paused.

He felt that the title "human" might be a kind of blasphemy to the other party.

"After I saw Him, I suddenly felt that this kind of thing could not only be used to make ropes and nets, but maybe it could be made into cloth, and then made into clothes, quilts, bags for carrying things, and so on."

"It's something we need that can change our lives."

Although the Snake Man was made from lizards by Sally, the Mother of Life, its prototype is human, or a race of gods.

Therefore they are not ectotherms, but endotherms.

Nowadays, the snake people living near the south basically maintain their original style because of the warm climate. If the weather gets cold, they still rely on fires and houses to avoid the cold and keep warm.

Those closer to the north are all wearing leather clothes.

Alpans listened to his son's thoughts little by little. Although Smerkle had been wandering around these years, he did not give up on himself.

He is also truly observing every city in Suinhor City-State and understanding everything about this country.

After hearing this, Alpans said seriously: "Snake Mother Themes once received a gift from the God of Creation and was able to put on the silk holy garment."

"You can find this kind of creation and think about using it to make cloth, which is very good."

"Since you have ideas and abilities."

"Then you should implement your idea next."

Smerkel looked at his father: "Yes, Father."

"That's what I'm going to do."

A smile appeared on Alpanz's face, because this meant that Smerkel was ready to take over the throne.

"What is this?"

Alpanz had already noticed that special flower. It was half a meter long and looked a little bit awkward.

He was about to get closer and take a closer look at this plant he had never seen before, but he found that the flower suddenly came to life and almost bit Alpans's nose off.

Although Alpanz was old, his instincts and experience were still there, and he immediately moved away reflexively.

The old king of the gods was startled, but in an instant he burst into laughter that spread throughout the world.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Alpans was really happy. He didn't expect that he, the majestic king of gods, would be frightened by such a plant.

"What is this thing? It can actually bite people?"

Smerkle also laughed together. He and his father were both symbioses of the Power of Life. Even if the Cup of the Sun bit them, it would not cause any harm.

But then when he talked about the origin of the Cup of the Sun, Smerkel slowly calmed down his expression.

"Father."

"What I'm going to tell you next is the strangest and most incredible story of my journey."

Alpanz immediately asked sensitively: "Is it the man in gorgeous clothes you just mentioned that you met?"

As soon as he heard Smerkel talk, Alpans felt something unusual.

It is rare to see a person wearing gorgeous clothes in this era.

Smerkel immediately showed a wry smile: "Human?"

He shook his head: "Although He didn't say it directly to me, I can feel it."

Smerkel's voice grew hoarse with emotion.

"He is a god."

Smerkel looked at his father, his expression slowly changed, and his eyes returned to the shock of seeing the Gate of Desire, the Sea of ​​Stars, and the Sacred Boat.

"One."

"A god from the realm of the Creator God."

Alpans stood up immediately: "God?"

He did not expect that his son would meet a god after him, and from what he said, that god was definitely not the Scarlet Witch from the Deep Sea Blood Kingdom.

After realizing that his movements were too big, Alpans slowly sat down again.

Only then did Smerkel continue.

"His name is Ivar."

"When I met him, he was in a deserted forest. He was sitting alone by the campfire. As soon as I saw him, I knew that he was extraordinary, so I approached him out of curiosity."

Smerkel slowly told the sacred story he had encountered in the jungle.

"..."

"He told me."

"When the first wisp of white appears in the sky, it is the time when the sacred boat returns to the kingdom of God. If you want to enter that world that does not belong to the human world, you can only ride on this giant boat that exudes golden light and miracles."

He told how he stepped into the door of desire, and he and the myth named Ivar boarded the sacred ship that shuttled between reality and illusion.

He saw the true kingdom of God, and he saw the sky filled with dreams of all creatures.

He told the story of his sleepwalking in the Star Sea. He said that he not only saw the dead people in Moonlight City, but also his former friend Lu Qi.

Listen, listen.

Alpanz also opened his mouth.

He knows the Kingdom of God, the Creator.

Because there are also records about that place in the snake people's mythology. It is said that the Mother of Life rides in her car to travel between the two worlds through the Tower of Babel.

Legend has it that there are all kinds of incredible things there, and devout people who believe in gods can get everything they want in that world after they die.

That was the sacred place that Samos, the Mother of Snakes, had been looking forward to for countless years but could not step into.

Alpans also learned for the first time what happens after a mortal dies, and the final destination of the spirits of all things.

He was as shocked as Smerkel. Although he couldn't see the boundless sea of ​​stars, just listening to Smerkle's description could feel the weight and oppression of the destination of all things and the end of civilization.

"It turns out that the destination of ordinary people's death is an endless sea of ​​stars."

"When every mortal reaches the end, they will go through the judgment given to them by God, the battle between good and evil, and ultimately it is up to each person to decide their own final outcome."

"This kind of trial."

"It is not God who judges mortals, but mortals who judge themselves."

"Everyone must face his own life, his own sins and kindness, his own merits and demerits."

For some reason, Alpans felt that such a judgment could not be carried out by the mythical Mother of Life, and was more like the will of another god.

Smerkel told Alpans: "The god I met told me that the origin of all this comes from a sacred spirit called a goblin. The most powerful goblin in the world is also the master of dreams. Sheila .”

"He controls all dreams, and that sea of ​​stars was born because of His power."

“He once blessed all living things, hoping that all the lives that have ever existed and lived in the world can leave their own traces and become stars to accompany the Creator forever.

"And this cup of the sun is the symbol and mark of the holy spirit like the goblin."

"He told me."

"As long as a person with a pure heart makes a wish to this flower, it will come true and he will be blessed by the fairies in the Kingdom of God."

Only then did Alpans figure out why he felt that this method of trial was somewhat incompatible with the image of the mother of life in mythology.

"It turned out to be a test set by such a beautiful and pure divine spirit. No wonder it is like this."

He once again read the words Smerkel said, the words that made him feel extremely beautiful.

"He hopes that all the lives that have ever existed in the world can leave their own traces and become stars to accompany the Creator forever."

"If every life could end like this, it would have such a beautiful destination."

"real……"

"It's great."

They didn't know that the creator Ivar was talking about was not the mother of life. The creator who was accompanied by the stars that Sheila, the master of dreams, wanted to be transformed into the spirit of all things, was named Yinsai.

The judgment of the dream of life comes from His will.

——

After Smerkel returned, Alpans began to transfer power to him little by little.

Smerkel designated a capable and courageous middle-aged man to become the palace prime minister to help him handle government affairs.

Smerkel, who once wandered around leisurely, became extremely busy and had no time to even play his harp.

Many things that his father Alpans could handle with ease, Smerkel found extremely difficult, requiring a lot of time, and having to discuss them again and again with his ministers.

But he is also growing.

this day.

Alpans, the aging king of the gods, was lying on the bed. He felt that his thoughts were sinking, and an ethereal and long call came from his ears.

The call seemed to come from another world, penetrating the distance of space and going directly into his mind.

"Alpanse!"

"Alpanse!"

"Time is up."

"It's here... it's here... it's here..."

The sound was transmitted softly, echoing in an extremely empty space, accompanied by the faint tidal sound of sea water.

Alpans, the king of gods, woke up and suddenly opened his eyes.

He lay still, knowing in his heart what was about to happen.

The voice was the god calling him.

After a long time, he turned over and got up.

He walked out of the palace little by little and came outside.

Alpanz saw the fog gradually spreading throughout the palace, and a cup of blood mist bloomed on the ground. The bloody and charming flowers were swaying in the fog, exuding the brilliance of death and life.

Thick fog covered the world, and the entire palace seemed to be isolated from the world.

At this time, other people in the palace also came out, including Prince Smerkel.

"Fog? Where did such a heavy fog come from?" The prince was also very confused. It was still a long time before dawn, and it wasn't time for fog yet?

"Look over there, the king is awake." Someone saw the fog slowly turning, and in the center of everything was King Alpanz.

"Why is this fog so weird?" At the end of the fog, there is endless darkness.

"Listen, there seems to be a sound?"

In the darkness, there is a looming lighthouse, emitting red light.

Gradually, they could hear countless people chanting something in a strange and special tone.

That was not a sound that the snake people could make, and the language was completely different from the snake people, but they could understand the meaning of the words.

"The Lord of the Kingdom of Blood in the Deep Sea, the Great First Ancestor of Blood, and the King of the Most Ancient Race."

"Life...the origin of life, servant of the Mother Goddess..."

"Everything will be back to... billions of years ago."

That is the name of God, the title of God.

Suddenly Prince Smerkle understood what it was.

Smerkel suddenly ran forward and came to the stairs of the palace.

He raised his head and shouted to his father.

"Father."

Alpanz looked at his son, with the same hearty smile as before on his face.

"When the wind blows, I am the protagonist of the times."

"And now, the wind has stopped."

"My time is over and I have lived a glorious life."

"Smoker."

"From now on, it's your turn."

Under everyone's gaze, Alpans stepped into the swaying mist of the Blood Mist Cup.

He went to the Kingdom of Blood in the deep sea, which was the destined destination of his body and the contract he signed with the gods.

Smerkel watched the fog slowly dissipate, watching his father disappear into the darkness and stand for a long time.

He felt empty in his heart, feeling that the darkness of the world and the coldness of the night wind were constantly eroding him.

But soon, the sun rose in the sky.

The morning sun shines on him, and the darkness and coldness will eventually recede.

It’s a new day for everyone.

It is difficult for everyone to adapt to loss, but everyone is constantly getting used to loss. Every time old things are lost, new things will be ushered in.

——

Smerkel became the second generation king of the gods in Suinhor.

He summoned people from the village outside Black Marsh City and asked them to cultivate rope net vines and learn their methods and techniques. He encouraged farmers to plant this plant in large quantities.

He summoned the craftsmen of the Fire Keep and asked them to transform the primitive methods into faster and more efficient ways to weave materials into cloth.

He continued to develop the advantages of planting in the city-state of Suinhor and let mortals wear clothes.

Cloth has gradually become the most common item in the daily life of the snake people.

He introduced three currencies: gold, silver, and copper. He changed the past trade method of barter. Although it could not completely replace barter, it gave a new mode of trading.

As a result, more merchants appeared, and the city-state of Suinhor became richer.

Smerkel's series of measures brought new changes to the city-state of Suinhall.

This year.

Under Smerkel's secret promotion, a rebellion finally broke out in the city of Seines, which had been hiding for many years.

Smerkel personally led the soldiers to quell the chaos, and returned victorious without any surprise, dealing with the biggest internal danger.

On his return, he drove his chariot through the streets.

A scholar was waiting for him in the middle of the street, holding the latest Book of Cloth Scroll in his hand.

Compared to the previous animal skin book.

Lighter and easier to carry.

The scholar walked under the chariot and saluted Smerkel respectfully.

"The King of God's Favorites."

"This is our poem for you."

The name of the poem is: "Divine Blessing."

A harp melody sounded.

The poem is long and tells the story of Smerkel.

The most important one is the legendary story of Smerkel's journey to the Kingdom of God. He walked through the sea of ​​stars where dreams of life gathered, and he boarded the sacred ship that traveled between the dream world and reality.

There are kings and gods in the story.

There is also a discussion about the destination of all living things, which has the most beautiful blessings in the world.

In the melody of the harp, everyone can't help but yearn for that dreamy journey.

Smerkle recalled that memory, too.

And when he came back to his senses, he found that the scene was exactly the same as when his father, King Alpans, returned.

Smerkel laughed too, copying his father's tone.

"I like it very much, take it..."

He originally wanted to carve it into a stone tablet.

But he changed his mind and said: "Compile these poems into a book, and then send it to every city in the Suinhor city-state, so that everyone in the city-state can know it."

The poem spread all over the world, and people learned about the existence of fairies and the secrets of death and destiny from the poem called "Divine Blessing".

That sentence: "He hopes that all the lives that have ever existed and lived in the world can leave their own traces and become stars to accompany the Creator forever."

It became the best prayer and blessing they had ever heard.

It is also the greatest blessing in the world.

The name of Sheila, the master of dreams, began to spread throughout the world, and the stories about prayers and fairies gradually became known.

Ivar did not expect that a casual conversation with a person he met accidentally would lead to the first step of his mission.