Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 228 Under the Gods, the Mask Appears

"After the gods die, they will be buried in golden light."

"But if she does not wish to sleep, the golden light will become flames, burning away all those who still gaze upon it."

The shrine's main gate is now eerily quiet, like a silent ambush.

Deep within the miasma-filled shrine district, a vermilion torii gate stands across the dilapidated stone steps.

Broken divine runes spread along the cracks in the ground, like a curse spreading to the human world.

The place of worship was filled with a nauseating, fishy, and deathly aura.

Si Ming led the group forward slowly, his boots treading over shattered ema (votive plaques) and charred amulets, his heart pounding faster in his chest.

The night wind howled, as if it were softly reciting some ancient ritual language.

They stopped in front of the last stone step.

The main hall of the shrine was still not visible; only a few shadowy pillars could be vaguely seen emerging from behind the mist.

Like a sleeping giant, waiting only for the moment to break through the formation before it opens its eyes.

"arrive."

Nobuna whispered, her voice seemingly imbued with a resolute sense of ritual.

The next moment, the darkness slowly cracked open.

It wasn't the sound of human footsteps, but rather streaks of light, like silk threads, slowly parting the curtain of darkness.

In the corridor of the inner shrine, a "deity statue" appears, its light and shadow intertwined.

She stood there, like a deity, yet clearly no longer human.

It was a metallic skeleton with a female silhouette, clad in clerical robes, its right half of the face flawless.
The left half was covered by a deep red metal mask, leaving only a cold, vertical pupil for observation.

Behind her, a ring of misaligned gears floated, flowing with strange law imprints.
It resembled a divine wheel, yet emitted a sickening metallic cutting sound.

"……welcome."

The voice came from inside her chest cavity, not from her throat, but from a simulated tone created by the reorganization of programs and memories.

"You are here."

She tilted her head slightly, her posture elegant, like a goddess guiding believers, yet her tone revealed a profound and unfathomable compassion.

"This is a place of sacrifice. Have you come for me?"

"who are you?"

Si Ming frowned slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the playing card spell.

She gently raised her hand, and six metal prosthetics slowly emerged from her robe.

On each arm, a "magical weapon" is held:
—A cracked hourglass;
—An inverted scale;
—The Gear Scepter;
—Fragments of the legal code;
—A burning scalpel;

—A precious orb shimmering with star patterns.

"I?"

She smiled, her voice so gentle it was almost absurd.

“I was once—Minako Mijinin.”

"Now, I am God."

There was a dead silence.

At that moment, Nobuna's face darkened completely.

"You are not worthy to call yourself 'she'."

Xin Nai spoke in a cold voice, her tone like a knife.

"You are nothing but a remnant—a puppet of a false god."

The metallic goddess-like skeleton remained silent for a moment, then chuckled softly, tilting her head slightly.

"Little sister...you've grown up."

"That's just right."

She murmured softly, her six arms slightly raised, as if proclaiming a priest:
"Come, let's sacrifice three 'barriers' for my sister's ritual."

"If you succeed—you can kill me with your own hands."

The air seemed to be compressed into a vacuum in that instant.

Everyone understands.

This is not a challenge.

This was a trial she—the former genius Onmyoji—set up with the arrogance of a god.

Under the trials, each of them was merely a sample number in the "test parameters".

"Sever the three barriers and destroy my reincarnation technique."

Minako's voice rang out again, cold and solemn.

“I will wait at the summit of the throne—to see if you can step onto the true altar of the gods.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the twisted and rotating halo behind her suddenly burst into a blinding light.

The ground trembled violently!

The area around the shrine seemed to split open in response!

Three vermilion torii gates rose abruptly from the mist, forming a triangle on the left, right, and front, piercing the dark sky.

Behind each torii gate, a path with a distinct style slowly unfolds:

Behind the torii gate on the left is an old Shinto path, lined with small lanterns.

Wild grasses spread onto the stone slabs, and the rusty bell and drum platform swayed in the wind.

A strange breathing sound could be faintly heard from deep within.

Behind the central torii gate is a waterside corridor with collapsed steps and a broken floating bridge.

A misty haze hung in the air, and the water's surface rippled softly from time to time.

Beyond the torii gate on the right, there is an extremely narrow mountain path.

The sides are densely packed with fox-faced stone statues and broken Kagura ribbons.

The eerie light in the stone statue's eyes flickered, as if it were watching everything.

"These three locations are the barrier array positions she set up."

Xin Nai said coldly, her eyes like frost.

"We must break out of the enemy lines separately."

“She knew all along that we were short-handed.”

Nobuna's lips twitched slightly, revealing a cold smile.

"She wants to force us to fight alone—like testing mice."

"This doesn't count as a game."

Si Ming lazily tugged at the corner of his clothes and smiled faintly.

"That's called layout."

"A madwoman, a director—she has everything planned out perfectly."

"So, Mr. Director?"

Xiao Lianyin strolled over, a cool smile curving her red lips.

"How do you intend to place your bets, you gambler?"

Si Ming glanced at her sideways, a playful smile on his face:

"Before placing a bet, you should check the chips first."

He looked around at everyone, pondered for only a few breaths, and then made a decision.

"The left flank—it's yours."

He said to Nobuna.

You can do it on your own.

Nobuna nodded silently, then turned and headed towards the left torii gate, her figure like a blade drawn from its sheath, without the slightest hesitation.

“Mid lane – I’ll take Celian and Xu Jinxiao.”

The God of Fate continued assigning tasks, saying, "I'll finish off the safest group."

Selene snorted and crossed her arms dismissively, saying:
"You always leave the most troublesome things to me."

"It's not a problem."

Si Ming smiled and corrected, "It's the most exciting."

"The rest—I'll take them."

Xiao Lianyin spoke softly, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Don't worry, they're my men."

Her gaze swept over He Chenghun, Takenaka Ryoma, Martin Ayers, and Fabio Pasquale.

The four men, without any objection and even with a certain secret fanaticism, lined up behind her.

Even a simple "I'll bring it" is an order to them.

Si Ming gave her a meaningful look, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"You're quite charming."

"You too."

Xiao Lianyin responded with a light laugh, her eyes blooming like poisonous flowers.

"It's just that we use it differently."

Wang Yichen stood at the edge of the crowd, without saying a word.

His gaze was shifty, as if he were observing, or as if he was hesitating.

No one assigned him to a team.

No one asked him where he was going.

And so, the three teams merged into the dark paths stretching into the unknown behind the three vermilion torii gates.

The fog was thick, and the light seemed to be swallowed up.

The world outside the shrine is slowly closing in.

It was as if this battle to break through the enemy lines was not just a matter of life and death.

It concerns everyone—

On the path of breaking with "the gods," is it still possible to preserve one's heart and soul?

Behind the torii gate, the mist flowed slowly like water. It was not just smoke, but a crack leading to the barrier array—a gateway to the Fallen God's Purgatory.

The three paths, like a silent, unfolding web of deadly traps, lure and ensnare every darer who steps into them.

Just as each team was assembling, Wang Yichen's foot moved slightly.

No one called out to him, and no one tried to stop him.

But as if drawn by something, he slowly—almost unconsciously—took steps toward Xiao Lianyin's direction.

At first, he was just standing on the edge.

Then, one step, two steps, and he silently disappeared into the shadows behind her.

Until Fabio turned around and glanced at him.

That glance held no hostility, but rather seemed to convey a sense of acceptance and recognition.

It was as if it was telling him silently: You belong here.

In that instant, Wang Yichen seemed to awaken from a daze.

"...Why would I..."

He muttered to himself, his mind blank, even his voice carrying a strange panic.

He almost wanted to raise his hand to his forehead, to pinch himself to make sure this wasn't a hallucination—

But then he suddenly realized that his hands were trembling slightly.

"The lipstick effect."

The voice of the God of Fate drifted in from behind, as casually as if he were commenting on the weather.

"You were kissed by her mysterious, light kiss, and the feeling of intimacy kicked in subconsciously."

Wang Yichen was startled and turned around abruptly to look at Si Ming, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"What do you mean?!"

Si Ming shrugged and smiled lazily:
"Your mind is fine, it's just—"

He blinked, his voice carrying a hint of mockery.

"Her charm level is indeed a bit too high."

In that instant, Wang Yichen's face flushed red.

It's not all about shame.

More often than not, it's the self-loathing that comes from being pointed out by someone for "unconsciously getting close".

He gritted his teeth, a ridiculous rage rising within him, ready to storm off—

Just then, Xiao Lianyin turned around and smiled sweetly at him.

"You can stay here."

Her voice was as gentle as the night breeze, softly brushing past my ear, without a trace of inquiry in it.

Wang Yichen paused slightly.

He stood still, unable to move.

He couldn't tell whether he had chosen to stay or not.
Or perhaps—they've simply lost the strength to resist.

Si Ming didn't try to persuade him; he just watched quietly.

The gaze was both gentle and indifferent, as if watching a die falling freely—

No evaluation is needed before the result is determined.

Behind the three torii gates, the world is shrouded in swirling mist, and the light is gradually swallowed up.

Wang Yichen stood silently behind Xiao Lianyin.

Like a puppet submitting to fate, or perhaps—

A sleepwalker who has not yet woken up.

The three teams are separated.

Nobuna stepped into the left-hand torii gate alone, her figure gradually disappearing into the thick fog.

Si Ming led Selene and Xu Jinxiao onto the central passage. The blood-red torii gate slowly closed behind them, like a silent, gaping maw. Xiao Lianyin, on the other hand, led her "familiars" through the mountain path on the right. Black fox masks covered the stone statues, like a forest of curses.

Each step felt like stepping into a silent incantation.

Wang Yichen walked at the back of the line, remaining silent throughout.

He didn't say another word, but his tightly clenched palm in his sleeve trembled slightly, as if he was suppressing some kind of impulse to leap out.

In the distance, towards the shrine, the bell tolled deeply for the second time.

"Thud—!"

At that moment, one of the lanterns on the entire Luoshen Street went out.

The city is slowly entering a new night.

Three short bird calls seemed to cut through the distant mist, mingling with the gloomy atmosphere seeping from the gaps in the dark clouds.

Si Ming stood beneath the blood-red torii gate, squinting at the winding stone steps ahead.

"This place..."

He muttered to himself, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity.

"Like a traditional shrine's pilgrimage route."

The broken eaves on both sides have long since collapsed, and the bluestone bricks under the torii gate are mottled and cracked, overgrown with weeds.

The air was filled with a sweet, metallic smell, a mixture of ash and blood iron.

The wind chimes hanging on the wall remained motionless in the stillness of the air, their bells silent yet seemingly chuckling.

"I always felt that nothing here welcomed us."

Selene walked behind Si Ming, her crimson eyes slightly narrowed, her tone indifferent.

"Ah."

Si Ming nodded.

He squatted down, reached out and brushed away a layer of dust to reveal a half-hidden stone carving of an animal.

"Japanese Shinto shikigami culture... Onmyoji... or rather..."

Si Ming lowered his gaze slightly and spoke in a low voice.

"Shadow Sacrifice".

He curled his lips into a slight, sarcastic smile.

“I once specifically researched this kind of cultural setting in order to sneak into a certain ‘folklore research live broadcast’ program.”

"so what?"

Selene blinked, giving a nonchalant look.

"So I can probably tell—"

Si Ming stood up and clapped his hands.

"These monsters are not 'enemies' that appear randomly."

“They are figurative deities selected from a specific folk system.”

He stretched out his finger and casually traced the skeletal outline of the "hunting monster" from before:

"This six-form layout is likely a battle formation built according to the 'six-pillar sealing' in Shinto rituals—corresponding to different times, directions, attributes, and auspiciousness or inauspiciousness."

"Then do you know how to break this?"

Selene tilted her head, a subtle smile appearing on her face.

"don't know."

Si Ming shrugged and spread his hands helplessly.

"Back then, I only did live streaming to gain attention. I copied a few books. If I were to actually ring the bell... I'm afraid I'd ring it wrong."

He paused for a moment, his gaze returning to the mist-shrouded stone steps ahead, and his voice gradually lowered:
"But breaking the formation doesn't necessarily require understanding the sacrificial text."

"Perhaps, all we need to do is—find its most fragile spot."

—

They continued forward, stepping onto the bluestone steps.

However, before the first section of stone steps was fully ascended, a figure appeared in the mist ahead.

Six fallen god shikigami clad in hunting robes slowly appeared.

With white cloth covering their faces, longbows and short swords were drawn simultaneously, and the chilling, oppressive killing intent almost materialized.
It forms a ring of encirclement.

"Another round?"

Selene tilted her head slightly, her crimson eyes narrowed, and her voice no longer held the surprise she had shown during their first encounter.

"This shrine is alive."

The God of Fate's voice was low and deep.

"It uses fallen god creatures to perform 'purification' periodically."

"And we—just happened to run into the cleaners."

He flicked his wrist, and the playing cards spun like wind between his fingertips.

Hearts, set ablaze;
Block, explode;
Spades, poisonous fog;
Plum blossom, cutting blade.

Four playing cards streaked across the sky like shooting stars, precisely piercing the vital points of each shikigami image!

Immediately afterwards, a flash of blood mist appeared.

Selene swept through the mist like a whirlwind!
She no longer suppressed the vampire power within her, but released it completely—

A figure flashed, claws danced, and each strike precisely tore apart the shikigami's joints and vital points!
Meanwhile, the God of Fate shuttled back and forth in the rear.
Use cards to disrupt the synergy between shikigami.

We must prevent them from forming a blockade formation.

"These things are fierce, but they're actually quite easy to fight."

Selene chuckled as she continued to strike.

Don't you think something's strange?

But Si Ming suddenly said in a deep voice.

"Strange?"

Selene blinked as she swung her claws.

"What's weird?"

"The movements of these monsters—"

The God of Fate spoke in a low voice.

"Too consistent."

"The attack pattern is singular, and the offensive strategy remains unchanged."

"They don't seem like independent organisms."

"More like—"

He narrowed his eyes and spoke in a cold voice:

"The wooden stakes in the simulated training field."

Selene blinked.

"You mean...we're being used as test subjects?"

"It's not a test."

Si Ming narrowed his eyes and sneered.

"Yes—surveillance."

"They are monitoring our growth."

The last shikigami completely disintegrated in the blood-red mist, turning into ashes and scattering with the wind.

Si Ming slowly walked to a cracked stone slab, bent down and picked up a torn paper talisman.

The paper talisman was tattered and torn, but a few blurry characters could still be vaguely discerned:
——“Shikigami Remnant Seal Preliminary Trial Batch [13-05]”.

He paused for a moment, then slightly tightened his fingertips, crumpling the paper talisman into powder, which scattered in the wind.

"It seems we weren't the first to try to break into the shrine."

Si Ming spoke in a low voice, his eyes reflecting a cold light in the firelight.

"And this game... is by no means the first time it has been held."

The fog began to thicken.

At the end of the stairs, a solitary, dim lamp flickered weakly in the mist, like a fragile heart beating slightly.

There—the second stronghold—was waiting for them to approach.

The wind has died down.

They stepped onto the open space at the end of the stone steps, and what greeted them was a mottled and broken mirror wall.

Above the mirror wall, pairs of fox-faced totems are faintly carved. Mist slowly seeps out from between the stones, swirling in the air like countless silent snakes.

Selene frowned slightly, her crimson eyes coldly sweeping over her surroundings:

"This terrain... seems a bit off."

Si Ming also stopped and squinted as he looked around.

Unlike the open battlefields we encountered before, there was no clear location of the enemy.

On the contrary, it's more like—

A deep well.

A deep well containing the unknown, dedicated to some kind of being.

"It feels like I'm being watched."

Selene said in a low voice, her voice suppressed like a cold wind whistling past her ear.

"Don't talk about you."

Si Ming chuckled, but his voice carried a clear sense of wariness.

"Even the playing cards feel uncomfortable."

The deck of cards he laid out, representing destiny, was slightly warm in his palm.

That's not normal hype, but a resonant warning when some underlying rules are being rewritten.

"The core of the array should be nearby."

Si Ming's gaze turned solemn as he slowly turned his head to look at the edge of the well.

"You stand back."

Selene raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery playing at the corner of her lips:
"Are you afraid I'll get blown up?"

Si Ming grinned:
"Of course I'm scared—so you'd better stay back a bit."

After saying that, he drew a diamond playing card and flicked it lightly with his fingertip.

"I hope nothing serious happens with this one."

The card streaked through the air and flew into the well.

silence.

A brief moment of silence—

Then, the heavens and earth collapsed!
"boom----!!"

The entire shrine garden suddenly exploded!

Like an invisible giant hammer pounding the bottom of a well, a gale-force wind carrying black mist and flames roared out!

The surrounding mirror surface shattered inch by inch.

The fox-faced totem flipped and hung upside down in the shockwave, its eyes lighting up with crimson light one after another, like countless lurkers opening their eyes in the darkness.

"withdraw!"

Si Ming grabbed Selian, and the two rolled away to the bottom of the stone steps, narrowly avoiding the aftershocks of the explosion.

The epicenter of the explosion—

Above the collapsed well, a blood-red platform suddenly rose up!
Vines spread wildly from the well opening, spiraling upwards like an umbilical cord, connecting to the unknown abyss below.

And on the platform—

A divine figure slowly rose up and appeared.

It was a fox-faced "goddess" wearing tattered hunting clothes.

She held a blood-red fan and wore a silver crown.

The left half of the mask depicts a smiling beauty, while the right half shows a gaping, empty eye socket with fangs.
It is like a forbidden existence that blends gentleness and terror.

Four fox tails grew from her feet, each covered with jet-black runes, coiling in the air like living tentacles.

behind——

The thousand ema (votive plaques) enshrined at the shrine were all burned at this moment.
It transformed into crimson flames, swirling behind her, as if she were born in the flames and came stepping on ashes.

"That is……"

Xu Jinxiao spoke in a low voice, his eyes serious.

"...a guardian spirit."

Si Ming coldly uttered this word.

"Also—a demigod."

Selene clenched her fists, and for the first time, a genuine seriousness appeared in her crimson eyes.

The fox-faced goddess slowly opened her blood-red fan.
On the paper, blood-red lines intertwine.

On it, the names of several people appeared prominently.

Si Ming glanced at it.

The next second, his pupils suddenly contracted.

His name was clearly written on the blood-stained fan.

"It seems she has chosen us."