Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 14 I am not a god

His breathing became heavier and his eyes were a little red.

There are obviously huge benefits in front of me, but why do I feel a little disgusted?

Yes, disgust, he hated this feeling.

Just like when he was at the dock and saw the ugly, swollen monster in front of him, he knew that this world had extraordinary powers, but he still tried to use his knowledge to explore the truth before him.

Some things are deeply engraved in the soul.

He knows very little about the world, but still tries to piece together its original appearance with the clues in his hands.

Questioning and thinking are the origins of human civilization, and modern science is its fruitful outcome.

Even though the world has changed and his knowledge has become worthless, he has never given up questioning and thinking.

Where are the gods?
God only asks people to obey, but science asks people to question.

In his previous life, he was just an ordinary person. He did not believe in gods, but only believed in himself. He supported himself with his own hands and pursued his dreams with his feet.

In this life, his origins are unknown. Perhaps gods really exist in this world. Should he bow down and worship them, or let the banshees in front of him lift him to the throne?
Is it the only thing he can do to follow the path taken by his predecessors and play tricks?
Hughes closed his eyes and clenched his fists.

So what if there are gods? So what if there aren't? How arrogant were humans in previous lives? They measured the world with their own feet, and the star maps they constructed with science and faith didn't even leave room for gods.

Hughes, you have seen the splendor of mortals, yet now you are succumbing to desire?

God? Curse? Prophecy?

What he saw was a group of slaves bravely standing up and smashing their shackles with their own hands, but now he is here to take the crown?

Hughes suddenly opened his eyes.

The chaotic thoughts disappeared, and his will, which had been tempered by temptation, was as hard as steel. There was no more hesitation in his eyes.

"Stand up, banshees, you shouldn't worship me!" Zeus shouted loudly, and the banshees raised their heads, looking at the small human with puzzled eyes.

He looked to his side, "Ash, let me ask you, was what I said about the water pressure at the dock correct?"

Ash was a little surprised, "Of course you're right, we're back to how we were before."

"I told you at the time that this was all knowledge from books. Do you remember?"

Ash nodded, "Yes, you said so."

"So, is it me or knowledge that frees you from the curse?"

Ash was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened.

Zeus took a step forward and looked around. "Banshees, I ask you, who fought their way out of the murloc's encirclement? Who blocked the ghost ship's fire? Was it me?"

The banshees were stunned. They vaguely realized what Zeus wanted to do, that terrifying possibility. No, even thinking about it made the banshees feel their whole bodies trembling.

Some of the banshees looked down at their hands, at a loss. Some of them held their heads in pain, their eyes filled with confusion.

Zeus knew that these banshees already had the answer in their hearts, but they just didn't dare to face it. He now needed to add fuel to the fire.

A banshee hesitantly stood up and replied, "We fight for you, for the gods."

"You are fighting for freedom!" Hughes shouted without hesitation. "I see brave and fearless warriors. I see unhesitating sacrifice. I see noble anger welling up in your eyes. I see you personally smashing the shackles of fate."

"You are no longer slaves. This is not a gift from the gods, but a victory you have earned with your courage and blood." The seabed was as quiet as a snowy morning. The banshees' faces were full of shock and even fear. What Zeus said was something they had never dared to think about. These words were shocking and even blasphemous, but... these were said by their gods themselves.

Gods save banshees, and banshees protect gods. This is a ballad from ancient times, and it is also a belief deeply engraved in every banshee.

Thousands of years ago, they sang such songs to defend their homes, and sang such songs to endure curses. They thought that in the future they would sing such songs to welcome new gods, forever.

But now, someone has stood up and told them that the banshees should sing praises of themselves.

The banshees were in chaos, and cracks appeared in their worldview, which was then smashed to pieces by the human in front of them.

"We are no longer slaves." A banshee murmured in a low voice.

More banshees raised their heads and tried to think. In the past, they only had to obey, obey the gods, obey the slave owners, obey the prophecies, and obey fate.

But now, the god they believed in made them try to think.

Slowly, the answer that made them feel incredible emerged in the minds of the banshees. What frightened them even more was that this answer came from their own thinking.

The atmosphere was horribly silent. The banshees lowered their heads, not daring to admit the horrible fact that popped up in their minds.

Xius waited patiently, knowing that something was about to come out.

Finally, one of the banshees stood up and looked at Zeus with horror: "That is to say, you, you, you are not..." She covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head desperately, as if trying to swallow her words.

"Yes, I am not a god."

When the banshees heard this, they looked up at Zeus in shock, and time seemed to freeze.

"I am not a god, I have never been a god, and I will never be a god." Hughes said slowly but firmly, "I am just a mortal."

The banshees fell silent again.

What did they hear? The gods denied their own existence.

Even though they had already guessed it, hearing Zeus admit it himself still had a huge impact on them.

But for some reason, when the guess appeared, they were afraid; when the guess gradually came true, they trembled; when the guess became the truth, they felt a little relieved.

Some banshees still couldn't accept the fact, babbling and yelling loudly, but some of them lowered their heads silently, not knowing what they were thinking, and the scene was in chaos.

But there were also a few banshees, staring at Zeus with sharp eyes. Their eyes were no longer full of fanaticism, but there was something else in them.

Zeus sighed inwardly. He was not a saint, nor did he have moral cleanliness. He was also greedy and short-sighted.

But I can’t explain why, when I see those pairs of sincere eyes, there are some words that I just can’t say.

Having traveled through time once and no longer having to fear death, does he still only dare to use lies to cover up his cowardice?

Hughes closed his eyes.

He didn't say anything else. He knew that these banshees couldn't accept this fact for the time being, and had never even had this concept in mind. If anyone else said these words except him, the banshees would just sneer, but it happened to be him.

He, the man who was placed on the throne, stepped down personally and returned the glory to the banshees.

Would the banshees be grateful to him? Probably not.

Xius smiled self-deprecatingly and closed his eyes gently.

(End of this chapter)