Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 395 The Shattered Mirror
"Fate is a complete and clear mirror."

When it shatters, countless failed selves are born from the cracks.

If you cannot accept your own shadow
Then you will eventually be devoured by the fragments of yourself.

—From *The Dream Weaver's Notes: The Shattered Mirror*

Si Ming strolled quietly through the eerie and secluded labyrinth of the back chamber, each step feeling as if he were treading on a sea of ​​stars deep in the void.

His surroundings, the walls, the dome, and even the floor beneath his feet were covered with countless tiny, cold starlight.

This space was like a cage forged from stars, cold and mysterious, even giving Si Ming the vague illusion that he was not walking inside a real building.

Instead, they were inside the belly of a colossal beast lurking in the endless void, at any moment in danger of being completely swallowed up by the boundless darkness.

Just then, his heart skipped a beat without warning, as if the bell of fate had suddenly tolled, heralding an unknown unease.

An indescribable sense of unease instantly gripped his nerves, causing him to pause almost imperceptibly.

He instinctively reached out and pressed his hand to his chest, and at the same instant, the mysterious card in his pocket suddenly broke free and floated silently in front of him.

Siming paused slightly, his gaze slowly focusing on the card that held immense significance for him—

True lies, the thousand-faced weavers of destiny.

The familiar card art now appears unfamiliar; the previously densely packed pale masks and the vertical pupils symbolizing fate are now slowly shifting.

With a strange frequency, they subtly shifted and rearranged like stars, and in the next moment, an exceptionally striking pattern abruptly materialized:

A scorpion, its entire body outlined with dazzling starlight, is quietly embedded in the corner of the card, its subtle glow hinting at something unsettling.

Si Ming stared at the strange yet familiar star map, his pupils contracting with an uncontrollable tremor—the pattern symbolized the alien host, one of his countless failed futures.

Accompanied by an irresistible heart palpitation, the voice of the Thousand-Faced One slowly echoed in his mind, its tone manic and mocking, as if a spectator watching over fate:
"Alien host... one of your countless failures, an insignificant fragment. Congratulations, Si Ming."

There was a brief pause, then the Thousand-Faced Man's tone became even sharper and more mocking:
"How ironic... You finally overcame the shadow of your own defeat, only to have to actively pick it up and make it a part of yourself."

Si Ming stared at the strange star chart, his brows slowly furrowing, a complex bitterness welling up deep within him. He pressed on with the question:
What does this really mean?

The Man of a Thousand Faces spoke again, but this time, unusually, he toned down his sarcasm and instead conveyed what seemed to be a genuine "goodwill":
"This is a fragment of your own destiny. Accepting it means you must personally experience what it's like to be an 'alien host.' Of course, you only have one chance."

Si Ming remained silent.

He instinctively resisted and resistant, wanting to reintegrate the terror he had once fought so hard into his soul; this very thought was enough to send endless chills churning within him.

He was acutely aware that this was not just about picking up the pieces, but also about confronting his inner shadows, vulnerabilities, and even madness time and time again. But he was also acutely aware that he had no other choice.

After a moment, Si Ming finally gritted his teeth, resolutely reached out, and firmly grasped the fragment that shone with the light of a dark blue star.

His palm trembled slightly as he slowly pressed it into the Mysterious Card.

In an instant, the Mysterious Card erupted with a dazzling and eerie light, and a violent and unfamiliar power surged into his consciousness like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing his soul to the brink of collapse.

His vision went black, and his consciousness seemed to be torn apart as he rapidly fell into some kind of chaotic illusion.

Si Ming seemed to be in the deepest void of the universe.

One familiar yet distant star after another shattered before his eyes, and countless civilizations and stars fell into the vortex of nothingness.

Despair and madness surged into his ears like a tidal wave, engulfing his reason and self.

He was shocked to discover that an unprecedented hunger and greed had risen deep within him, a desire to completely devour and integrate this boundless universe into himself!
"No...no! This isn't me!"

Si Ming screamed in agony, struggling desperately to escape that strange and frenzied state.
But the alien host's bizarre and distorted face had already appeared on the edge of his consciousness, as if it would completely replace his original self in the next second.

Just as he was about to completely lose himself, the Thousand-Faced One's whisper echoed in his consciousness once more, carrying a cruel yet excited warning:

"The deeper you go, the closer you get to supreme madness. Every time you use the power of the fragments, your reason and ego will gradually crumble."

These words were like a cold bolt of lightning, suddenly cleaving through the confused mind of the God of Fate.

He suddenly awoke, using all his willpower to tear his consciousness out of that insane illusion, gasping for breath, his eyes snapping open.

The dazzling yet mysterious star labyrinth once again appeared before Siming's eyes like a dream.

He looked down at the completely fused Mystic Card in his palm, his face slightly pale, and fine beads of sweat on his forehead reflecting the deep starlight.

Although the experience was brief, it was as unforgettable as eternity; for the first time, he felt so clearly the power of the shadows of his past failures.

Vast and real, yet extremely dangerous, like the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, ready to fall at any moment.

He steadied his rapid breathing, looked up again at the endless starry walkway ahead, and suddenly chuckled softly.

That smile contained a hint of self-deprecation and mockery, but also carried a sense of resolute acceptance and understanding of fate.
"Actually, I should have guessed it when I stepped into this maze... I was about to meet you, wasn't I?"

Si Ming's voice gradually rose, carrying a youthful defiance and resolute intent:
"Star Speaker, come out. I have already heard your sneers."

The words drifted out slowly like stardust, and the air seemed to fall into a brief but deadly silence.

The next second, the void suddenly distorted, and the starlight dimmed all at once, as if the brilliance of the entire world trembled and retreated in fear of some supreme being.

Siming raised his gaze and saw a huge, blurry figure slowly emerging from the depths of the distant stars.

The figure was several meters tall, like a giant between heaven and earth, shrouded in a cloak of ever-changing, vast nebulae.

Countless stars are born and destroyed within it endlessly, like a slowly flowing miniature universe.

His face was the void itself, pitch black and deep, without any facial features, except for a pair of extremely cold eyes that shone with a faint light like cold stars, making it impossible to look directly at him, yet impossible to look away.

The Star Speaker is a being who has truly stepped onto the edge of divinity.

He was originally a god of destiny, but due to the mental pressure brought about by his astral delusions, his self-awareness was completely shattered, and he fell into eternal cosmic personality dissociation.

He is no longer human, but a cold representative of the will of the stars.

With each heavy and eerie step,
All of these depict the terrifying scenes of the birth and destruction of stars, as if declaring the insignificance and vanity of all things in the world in the most direct way.

Si Ming clearly felt an indescribable sense of oppression sweeping over him, his heart pounding violently, almost suffocating him.

The Star Speaker lowered his head slightly, his cold eyes revealing mockery and derision.
The voice was like a whisper from the depths of the void, ancient, arrogant, and carrying the power to destroy all hope.

"If we meet again, are you prepared to die again?"

Si Ming remained silent, simply gazing at the other person's figure.

His silence was like the sharpest response, implying a certain fatalistic acceptance.

Seeing this, the Star Speaker slowly curled a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, his voice becoming even more contemptuous and mocking:

"You are nothing but a toy of fate. No matter how many times the dream weaver of fate resurrects you, you will only sink deeper into the quagmire of fate."

Before he finished speaking, the Star Speaker raised his arm, and endless star power instantly gathered in his palm, causing the entire space to tremble violently.

The dome of the star labyrinth cracked open with countless twisted, pitch-black fissures. The next moment, a massive, blazing meteor streaked with a crimson tail that incinerated everything.

It roared out from the depths of nothingness, crashing down upon Si Ming with overwhelming force.

[Trial of the Stars]!
In this vast and despairing torrent of stars, a familiar yet terrifying image suddenly flashed through Siming's mind.

He had experienced death in this scene, and the bloody memory awakened the fear and despair hidden deep in his soul.

However, this time, a dashing and confident smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

He calmly raised his head, his burning gaze fixed on the star storm that descended like a judgment, and softly uttered the true name of the Lord of Destiny: "The true lie, the weaver of a thousand faces of fate."

Before the words were finished, the dazzling star labyrinth was suddenly enveloped in a magnificent yet eerie glow.

The Thousand-Faced Mystic Card in his hand floated lightly into the air, and countless pale, empty masks instantly surged out like a vortex of stars.

The placement of the God of Destiny at the center creates an atmosphere of supreme mystery and nobility.

Si Ming raised his right hand, and a pure white, eerie mask slowly fell into his palm.

He calmly and casually put it on his face, his movements elegant and free, as if he were wearing a crown that could defy fate.

His deep gaze, hidden behind the mask, pointed directly at the Star Speaker, and he chuckled softly, his tone distant and mysterious:
"Have you forgotten? We are the weavers of fate."

With a gentle wave of his hand, the overwhelming meteors seemed to be moved by the invisible and gentle hand of fate, each one passing him by perfectly timed, without harming him in the slightest.

This is precisely the supreme fortune bestowed upon him by the third secret of the Thousand Faces, [The Favor of Fate].

He strolled among the dazzling, yet devastating, stars, his steps light and unhurried.
Like a poet strolling leisurely through a rain-soaked, overcast sky, crossing the boundaries of death and fate with a carefree and proud air.

Everything seemed to have been predetermined, and he was smiling as he accepted his destiny.

He slowly raised his head, gazing at the tall Star Speaker before him, a confident yet meaningful smile curving his lips:

“I have some friends who want to send you their greetings in a special way.”

After a brief pause, he added in a low voice, his words laced with mockery and provocation:

"You...you won't mind, will you?"

The moment the words fell, the void behind Siming suddenly rippled and twisted, and then four enormous and strange [Star Eggs] appeared.

The eggs were crystalline and pale, emanating a star-like aura that could shake one's mind. They rotated slowly in the darkness, like four unhatched ancient alien god eggs sleeping in the starry sky.

Siming glanced back, then casually waved his hand, and the soft light from the pale mask instantly fell upon the four star eggs.
They bear the unique mark of the weaver of fate:

"Now, the game begins—"

His voice suddenly rose, revealing a youthful nonchalance and an irresistible authority:

"It's my turn to shuffle the cards!"

Accompanying these declaration-like words, countless threads of destiny swiftly wove themselves in the void, flowing rapidly from the fingertips of the Fate Master.
Lightly and swiftly, it wrapped around the surface of the star egg, within which a terrifying being seemed to slowly awaken, carrying a power capable of overturning everything, about to break free.

The Star Speaker's gaze suddenly turned serious, and for the first time, a look of shock and disbelief appeared on his face, which was constructed of stars.

His once disdainful gaze trembled slightly as he stared at the opponent he had once looked down upon.

At this moment, Siming was like the protagonist in the center of the stage, with the Star Egg behind her appearing and disappearing in the distance.

A strong sense of destiny and a hint of madness intertwine and swirl, making him a true dream weaver of fate.

The rain of judgment from the stars continues to fall in a mighty torrent, yet the meteors that destroy everything can no longer shake the power of fate.

He gently raised his right hand, the white mask highlighting the slight upturn of his lips, his voice low and soft, like the chanting of a poem of destiny:
"Threads of fate, in my name, let us rewrite the script for this drama..."

As he whispered, the four star eggs suddenly began to throb violently, and the threads of fate on their surfaces tightened and spun rapidly.
A chilling cracking sound rang out, "Crack—" and a torrent of star-blue alien blood gushed forth in an instant.

Four distinctly different and powerful figures slowly descended into this space.

Si Ming bowed gracefully, like an emcee introducing actors in a theater, and looked at Xing Yuzhe with a polite smile:
"Let me introduce you to the new 'actors' who are making their debut in this drama of fate—"

"First, the sinful symbol of gluttony and desire, one of the twelve progenitors of the vampires: the twin princesses of envy."

As he introduced her, a young woman dressed in a black and red gothic dress, with a bewitching face but exuding a bloodthirsty and dangerous aura, gracefully stepped out.

Behind her, countless eerie, scarlet thorny vines wriggled and stretched, exuding extreme killing intent.

The next moment, she smiled sweetly, her figure swayed slightly, and she mysteriously split into two identical twin girls:

"Oh my, tonight's prey looks delicious, sister."

"Yes, little sister, we're sure to have a great time."

The Fate Master nodded in satisfaction and continued:
"Following closely behind is Sazeroth, the king of the Reflection World, one of the three worlds under the command of the Supreme Being of the World System."

As soon as the words were spoken, a strange yet majestic giant deer slowly stepped out from the remains of the star egg.

Its body is composed of countless mirrors that reflect both illusion and reality; wherever its hooves tread, a complex and distorted space of reflections immediately appears.

Sazeroth looked down at the Star Speaker, his vast and indifferent eyes flashing with an indescribable eeriness:

"The reality you see is just a corner of my reflection in a mirror."

Si Ming turned slightly to the side and continued his introduction:

"Next up is the Shinto priestess who tames the eight-tailed fox spirit Tamamo-no-Mae—Minako Mijinin."

A flurry of light, like cherry blossom petals, danced by, and a girl dressed in a magnificent shrine maiden outfit, exuding solemnity and majesty, slowly stepped out of the void.

She held a white paper staff, and behind her, a huge and bewitching eight-tailed fox shadow roared softly, causing the space to tremble.
"Tamamo-no-Mae, tonight we will cleanse all filth for Lord Siming."

Finally, Si Ming waved his hand casually:

"The last to appear is Leo, the genius puppeteer from the 'King's Theater'."

A gloomy-looking young man slowly emerged from the shattered remains of the Star Egg. His lower body was made of a hideous mechanical spider, and his hands moved swiftly, manipulating a dense array of eerie threads.

In an instant, a magnificent yet dark theater appeared around him, shadows and lights intertwining, creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere.
"My puppet theater has already begun, and tonight's protagonist... is you, Star Speaker."

At this moment, behind Siming stood four allies who were completely different yet incredibly powerful.

They were born on the threads of fate and madness, destined to come to the Lord of Destiny to reverse this judgment.

Si Ming looked at the shocked Star Speaker, opened his arms, and said with a gentle smile:

"This is the performance I have carefully prepared for you; the judgment you have been handed down, I will overturn with my own hands."

The Star Speaker gazed silently at the suddenly reversed situation, the starlight flashing rapidly, suppressing deep anger and doubt.

Si Ming slowly withdrew his arms, the smile behind the mask growing increasingly meaningful:
"Are you ready? The real drama is just beginning."

The Star Speaker's cold, low laughter rang out again:

"Very good... It seems that this time, you are finally worth my serious attention."

The curtain of fate is slowly rising, and a destiny-bound battle that could shake everything is about to unfold.

When you finally choose to confront your own madness and failures...
Those fragments of fate that once terrified you

It will then transform into your sharpest weapon and your strongest armor.

Remember, true strength...

It's not about avoiding failure, but about managing it.

—From *The Dream Weaver's Notes: The Shattered Mirror*

(End of this chapter)