Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 530 Flowers Bloom and Fade, All Blossoms Wither

Flowers bloom to herald spring, flowers fall to become blades.

Dusk is nothing but a divine illusion.

Humans, however, are the true masters of their own destiny.

—From *Cherry Blossom Tale*, Volume Thirteen: Twilight Ballad

Everything stood still at that moment.

The wind no longer blows, the clouds no longer move. Even the echo of the thunder beast's roar has been sliced ​​into a thin sheet of silent ice by time.

The ground was covered with charred marks and cracked rune arrays. Xu Long's Chixiao sword was still dripping blood, while Xiu Xing was wiping the blade of Po Jun.

The firelight reflected on his face, making him look like a god who was out of place in this world.

He raised his gaze and looked seriously at the man holding the Crimson Sky for the first time.

Lightning flowed across the sword, a light he had never seen before—a light that could "break through demonic barriers."

His voice was so soft it was almost a whisper:

“Chixiao... can break curses and sever lives... I see.”

The next moment, Xiuxing stopped smiling and pulled out his flute with a backhand.

It was a white jade flute, so old it looked as if it had been carved from the bare bones beneath a cherry tree.

He closed his eyes and brought the flute to his lips.

The sound of a flute begins.

It wasn't sound, but wind.

It's not the wind, but time.

All the falling petals stopped in mid-air.
The flames froze midway through the burning process.
Xu Long's cloak fluttered in the wind, a pose that remained unchanged.

The whole world has been captured in a single painting.

The sky has changed.

The boundary between night and day is being torn apart little by little.

The golden and purple twilight seeped into the battlefield from the horizon.

The "Hour of Twilight" was fully awakened in that instant.

The fox-like growth on Xiuxing's forehead trembled slightly, and one of his golden vertical pupils opened.

Abe no Haruhisa's curse made a final protest within his body.

The Thunder Beast roared in the sky, and Po Jun's armor cracked.

Countless cherry blossom petals fell from the sky, but they were no longer pink and white—

That was blood. Blood-red flowers.

The wind was stained red.

Time is locked.

"Burning Star—"

Xiuxing's lips twitched slightly, like a cold laugh directed at a god.

He unsheathed Po Jun's sword.

At that moment, the world lit up simultaneously.

"If flowers were blades, their fall would be blood. When they bloom at dusk, heaven and earth are beset by demons."

His voice flowed through the air, sounding less like human speech and more like some kind of decree.

The Thunder Beast's thousand eyes shone brightly, and a million arcs of lightning coiled around Po Jun's blade.

He slowly raised his knife.

Time was shattered.

At this moment, all colors were reduced to two: blood and light.

With each step he took, a cherry blossom bloomed on the ground.

When the cherry blossoms bloom, the blood beneath your feet congeals into crystals;
When the cherry blossoms fall, the blood crystals shatter and transform into new rain of light.

Air is like a liquid.

Artillery fragments lay beside him;

The talismans of Yin-Yang magic hung in the air, like stars that had lost their gravity.

Even Xu Long's Crimson Sky Sword light turned into a reflection in the air.

The "Oma Time: Burning Star Form" has been fully activated.

An illusion of Nijō Castle rose behind him.
It was a city forgotten by time—towers floated in the air, and bridges spanned the interplay of light and shadow.

He stepped onto the bridge, where cherry blossoms formed the steps, and the flower bridge connected heaven and earth.

With each step, the bridge bricks shatter into petals, scattering into the twilight sea.

Po Jun and the Thunder Beast merged into one.
That was a combination of a war god and heavenly thunder.

Thunder transformed into wings behind him, and light flowed like a river, cascading down from the clouds.

He spread his arms.

The entire battlefield was shrouded in his "Twilight Realm".

The Onmyoji's spells collapsed.
The pirates' cannonballs went out in mid-air.

All life and energy freeze in the instant the flower blooms.

And at the moment the "flowers fall",

The entire army perished.

Lightning struck him, gilding his shadow with gold.

He whispered:

"I was once the guardian of the sea of ​​cherry blossoms."

I tried to believe in God.

Later, I discovered—"

He raised the blade of Po Jun and pointed it at the sky.

"Even the gods fear twilight."

At that moment, all of Tokyo stood still.

Even the Deepsea Nightmare fleet ceased firing.

Everyone stared at the blood-red sunset, at the white-robed Onmyoji—

He stood alone amidst the sea of ​​flowers, the sound of his flute still lingering.

Like a poem, like a dream, like a fallen star.

"At this moment, he is not a person, but twilight itself."

"The blooming of flowers is a matter of fate."

When flowers fall, it's a calamity.

If you see this flower, be careful not to call out its name.

The wind blows gently.

The illusion bridge of Nijo Castle spans the heavens and the earth, with petals falling like a rain of light from the sky.

Beneath the bridge, the shadows of thunder beasts surged, and the roaring tides echoed with the clash of ten thousand armies.

The two were already standing on the bridge.

White robes and crimson flames, the colors of the sky and the sea, finally meet here.

Xu Long rode through the flames, drawing his sword Chixiao, its blade blazing like fire in the sun, scorching the flower petals until they turned yellow.

Every step he took carried an aura of dominance that shook the heavens and earth.

That is the stride of a king.

Xiu Xing stood still, with Po Jun lying across his body.

Lightning flashed along the blade, illuminating his face.

Behind him, the flower bridge stretched endlessly, the blooming and falling of flowers all bathed in the hues of dusk.

Their eyes met.

A silent dialogue.

—No one will back down.

—Not one will give way.

Hideyuki was the first to use his sword.

Lightning burst forth in an instant, and the blade energy transformed into dozens of white rays.

The petals were swept up by the wind and instantly torn apart by the lightning flames.

But Xu Long's sword struck horizontally at the same instant—

Fire and lightning collided, exploding into a sea of ​​light.

The bridge trembled, and fragments scattered, turning into drifting petals.

"At the moment when the sword and blade clashed, heaven and earth repeated themselves three times."

Flowers bloom, flowers wither, flowers bloom again—all in the blink of an eye.

The smell of blood permeated the air.

The smell of iron was so strong it was almost suffocating.

Xu Long's sword grazed Xiu Xing's neck and slashed him open.

Hot blood splattered and landed on the jade bricks of the flower bridge.

The world stopped the moment the petals were stained with blood.

Flowers fall—

Time is frozen.

Even the blood froze in mid-air.

Xiuxing raised his sword, turned around—and the flowers bloomed again.

Time repeats itself.

That slash not only cut through the flames but also sliced ​​open Xu Long's shoulder.

Fresh blood, like a burning sunset, slid down his shoulder.

They passed each other again.

An invisible bolt of lightning exploded in the air.

Thunder and flames tore the sky apart.

The two shadows on the bridge intersected, overlapped, and then separated.

Petals drifted down between them.

Some landed on the blade and were cut in half;

Some of them stuck to the face and melted away with sweat;

Some of it fell into their eyes like tears.

In the distance, Tokyo Tower is bathed in the soft sunlight.

Abe Haruhisa sat upright like a statue, slowly tapping his palm with a folding fan.

A strange light flashed in the fox's eyes.

“Xiu Xing…you are disobeying my decree.”

The fox tumor throbbed in response.

Xiuxing's body stiffened, and he stopped moving.

A bloodline appeared between his brows, and the fox-like growth on his forehead opened its eyes.
Those were Haruhisa's eyes.

"obey."

A voice echoed in his mind.

"Kneel down."

Another command, like a spell.

The Thunder Beast suddenly lost control in mid-air and let out a painful roar.

Po Jun's blade veered off course for a moment, almost slipping from his grasp.

Xiuxing's body trembled, and blood slid down his neck.

He gritted his teeth, a low growl escaping his throat as if being torn apart.

—Burning Star, Accelerating.

The golden fox mark flashed with intense light, almost cracking open.

Qingjiu sneered in front of the distant light screen, tapping his fan lightly: "In vain."

However, the next moment, the rune array of the light screen backfired.

Xiuxing suddenly looked up, his eyes a blend of gold and red.

The light from the fox tumor intertwined with the lightning from the burning star, and flames exploded from his body.

Thunder Beast and Breaking Army roared simultaneously.

The flower bridge in the sky was instantly ignited by lightning and fire.

The petals burst open, turning into thunder and rain.

The stillness of time collapsed once again.
The evening bells echoed throughout the city.

Hideyuki raised his sword, his voice deep and thunderous:
"I... have already died once."

"A divine kingdom? That's nothing but a fox's dream."

He stepped forward.

Thunder Beast stepped under the bridge, and Po Jun and Chi Xiao collided again.

this moment,
Even the lights on Tokyo Tower went out.

Lightning ripped through the sky, and flames ignited the night.
Their swords and blades have written a new timeline.

Petals fell like rain.

Blood gushed forth like a tide.

In that endless twilight,
Xiuxing's smile was as cold as a poem.

I'd rather die in the blooming of flowers.

They also refused to live a life of dishonor in God's kingdom.

The moment the thunder struck the earth, heaven and earth were torn apart.

Xu Long raised his eyes, the Crimson Sky Sword was burning red, and his whole body was like a raging fire.

Flames erupted from beneath his feet, engulfing the bones and scraps of iron at his feet.

The storm swirled around him, and the sword rang out like a dragon's roar.

—Burning Star, activated.

Crimson Sky burst forth with blinding light.

That was the awakening of the Fire God Sword.

Fire erupted, splitting the sky in two.

Half of it is the twilight of Xiuxing, and the other half is the crimson sky of Xulong.

Dusk is burning, night is roaring.

Blood blossoms and thunderstorms mingled in mid-air, forming a crimson-gold celestial river.

It was as if the heavens and earth had collapsed between them.

Two figures collided, separated, and then intersected again amidst the interplay of fire and lightning.

Every time swords clash,
The world will temporarily lose its sound.
Then a thunderous roar responded to their breath.

A bolt of lightning struck the ground, splitting mountains and rivers.

The flames surged back, burning the sky and turning it into a sea.

This is not a battle, but a prayer between two gods.

Xiuxing's Broken Army flashed with a destructive light.

Each strike was accompanied by the roar of the thunder beast.

Xu Long's Crimson Sky ignited the fire of an emperor, and with each counterattack, the earth shattered.

They killed each other a hundred times.

The flower bridge shattered into light, and the Thunder Beast was forced back by the raging flames.

The illusion of Nijo Castle also began to collapse.

As dusk falls, the flow of time becomes disordered.
The world began to feel the weight of this duel.

Between the blooming and withering of flowers,

This world, it's time for it to come to an end.

Xiuxing spoke softly, his voice as calm as the wind.

The radiant light emanating from him began to flicker and become unstable.
The stillness of time gradually shattered.

He knew he was nearing his limit.

Xu Long noticed all of this.

He gazed at the solitary white figure amidst the lightning.

No words were spoken, only respect was shown.

He raised the Crimson Sky Sword, its blade piercing the sky.

The flames flowed like a river, transforming into a red beam that pierced the sky.

"Flowers Bloom in the Courtyard, Beauty Abounds".

"You're quite interesting, and I, Burning Star, would like to see you off."

The crimson dragon roared, and the flames surged.
That is the myth of the burning star.

Time returns to the constant state of the "Omaha Hour".

Dusk collides with raging flames, and all things come to a standstill.

The air froze, and even the thunder seemed to solidify into fragments.

Xu Long stepped forward, his Crimson Sky sword aimed directly at Xiu Xing's brow.

that moment--

All the light in the world is focused on that one-inch sword tip.

The sword light drew near.

Xiuxing's eyes sharpened.

"The lock God gave me, I use a blade as the key."

He raised the Broken Army sword in his backhand.

The blade flashed like lightning, rotating counterclockwise.

Thunder roared, shattering the heavens and earth, as Po Jun's lightning blade slashed through the crimson sky—

The sword tip was only half an inch off.

But it is the difference between life and death.

Chixiao did not pierce the heart.

But it pierced through his forehead—

Right in the center of the tumor.

A low, shattering sound.

The golden light from the fox tumor burst forth.

Like a sunrise bursting forth from within.

Countless golden runes scattered,
Abe Haruhisa's fox shadow tore apart and vanished in the light.

Haruhisa's spell connection was instantly severed.
He paused, startled, before the dappled sunlight, and his folding fan fell to the ground.

"Do not--!"

He saw Xiuxing's shadow, and he stood up in the light.

Lightning crackled around his body.

It was no longer a puppet of God.

He was a completely free person.

Xiuxing raised his head.

The fox mark on his forehead had long been charred black by the Crimson Flame.
The light of humanity rekindled in his eyes.

"free……"

"It's just a luxury bought with a single cut."

He looked at Xu Long and smiled slightly.

That was the smile of a boy amidst a sea of ​​cherry blossoms.

Arrogant, genius, and aloof.

On the battlefield where thunder and fire clashed, the two brushed past each other for the last time.

Po Jun and Chi Xiao intersect.

Electric light pierces through heaven and earth.

Petals drifted down again, covering the bridge.

Dusk and night were dyed purple and gold by thunder and fire.

The world seemed to fall silent for a moment—

All sounds were drowned out by the heartbeat of thunder and fire.

The countdown began, and the final numbers lit up behind them:

【00:10:00】

The two kings held their breath at the same moment.

The wind has calmed down.

The Thunder Beast turned into dust, and the last wisp of lightning on Po Jun's blade went out.

The stillness of time dissipates, and heaven and earth begin to breathe anew.

Xiuxing stood at the end of the bridge, his silhouette edged with gold by the twilight.

His blazing starlight is gradually fading.

Po Jun's blade shattered, and the lightning transformed into flower petals, falling one by one from his palm.

Xu Long's Crimson Sky is still burning.

Flames reflected in the void between the two.
They passed each other by.

Lightning and flames merged, and the world seemed to be split in two by a storm.

In that instant, no one turned around.

"Be careful, Mijinin... Fox tumor parasite."

The sound was as soft as a breeze.

Xu Long paused slightly.

When he turned around, Xiuxing's figure had already begun to crumble.

Starting from the toes,
His body gradually turned into flower petals.

Each piece is marked with lightning patterns.
Swirling, floating, and scattering in the wind—

Like fragments of time, a lifetime unfolds in a single second.

Onmyo Shrine at the foot of Tokyo Tower
Haruhisa Abe sat in front of the light screen.
He holds a fan in one hand and a cup in the other.

He looked up at the sky.

"The flowers are blooming," he whispered.

The next instant, the heavens and earth roared.

Thunderbolts struck the shrine beneath Tokyo Tower.
A thousand bolts of lightning struck simultaneously.

The entire Yin-Yang formation of the shrine was directly cleaved open.

The light barrier shattered, and the runes scattered.

A knife emerged from the lightning.

The blade was cold, pressed against Haruhisa's neck.

The electric light illuminated Qingjiu's face, making his fox-like eyes slightly bright.

He continued to smile, his lips calm to the point of being almost cruel.

"It's no use, Hideyuki."

You have lost.

Rules appeared on the light screen—

[The Kakeruin faction cannot attack spectators.]

That's the divine decree of the dungeon.
It is an ironclad rule written by the "world" itself.

Xiuxing lowered his head, looking at those few lines of text.

The corners of his mouth slowly turned up.

"Divine decree?"

He murmured softly, his tone so gentle it sounded like he was laughing.

The next moment——

The air seemed to crack.

A thin line of blood appeared on Haruhisa's neck.

It was almost imperceptible, yet so clear it was blinding.

A drop of blood slid down his clothes and fell to his feet.

Haruhisa was stunned.

The fox's eyes narrowed sharply, revealing for the first time an expression of disbelief and fear.

The screen flickered, and a series of system notifications popped up simultaneously:

[Warning: Rules have been interfered with by unknown means]

[Warning: System protection barrier imbalance]

[Warning: Logic in the decision is flawed]

Thunder roared above the shrine.

Xiuxing raised his eyes, his cold golden eyes flashing in the lightning.

"Rules? Ha."

"That was made for people."

I am not part of God's script.

He drew his sword and turned around, lightning tearing through the air.
It made a sound like flower petals breaking.

"King of a Million Onmyoji?"

"You don't even have the courage to draw your sword and fight."

He turned and left, his steps slow, yet lighter than falling petals.

Haruhisa remained standing in the same spot, her smile gone.

Only a thin line of blood remained, slowly flowing down her neck.

His hands clenched quietly, his knuckles turning white.

Beneath his feet, the shadowy screen still flickered with the cold light of the system.
The drop of blood fell onto it.

Scorched by the flames
But it left behind a red mark that could not be erased.

Dusk fell again.

A shower of petals fell from the sky.

One piece, two pieces, ten thousand pieces.

That's not a flower, it's the embers of thunder.

Each petal carries the warmth of blood.

Hideyuki arrived at the phantom gate of Nijo Castle.

The wind lifted his hair and scattered the blood on his clothes.

The light of dusk fell on his face, no longer the golden radiance of a god, but the afterglow of humankind.

He stopped and looked up at the sky.

"When the flower blooms, it dies."

Flowers fall, and so do life.

But at least... he died by his own hand.

He gently closed his eyes.

His lips twitched, as if he were smiling, or perhaps whispering.

"The pear blossoms on the back hill...shouldn't they be blooming by now?"

The girl at that little wine shop

This year, we'll probably make pear-flavored liquor again.

His voice was carried away by the wind and drifted into the blood-red clouds.

"I really want to... taste another bite of the pear she offered me."

He sighed, like a boy speaking in a dream.

At that moment, his divine essence crumbled, and his genius vanished.
Only one arrogant and stubborn young man remained.

He recalled his brief, ordinary life in the wind.

The wind scatters the flowers, and the flowers transform into light.

At the end of dusk, a clap of thunder pierced the heavens and the earth.

That was the sound of his sword—his final "bloom."

The moment the petals fell,
Everyone on the Tokyo battlefield was looking up.

Heaven and earth seemed to stand still for a moment.

In that instant, there were no gods in the heavens, and no emperors on earth.
Only one name echoes in the wind—

Huakaiyuan·Xiuxing

At the foot of Tokyo Tower, Haruhisa lowered his fan.

He read it softly:
"Flowers bloom and wither, all at the moment of encountering demons."

The wind chimes at the shrine tinkled softly.

The fox shadow swept past him and disappeared into thin air.

He looked up and saw a shower of flowers.

The jealousy at the corners of her mouth deepened.

"You will always just be a flower in my hand."

Dusk was deepening.

The wind stopped, the thunder ceased.

In the distance, the countdown timer for the missile flashed.

【00:03:00】

Siming looked up at the cherry blossom rain falling from the sky.

Said softly:
"The end of a genius."

The end of the blooming season.

He turned around and continued walking towards the nuclear flame base.

God writes His will in the heavens, man writes his heart with a knife.

If the flowers bloom again, they will surely be in a place devoid of gods.

The name of Huakaiyuan will be forever etched in the twilight.

—From *Cherry Blossom Tale*, Volume Thirteen: Twilight Ballad

(End of this chapter)