Spellcasting Gods

"So... you've awakened?" Zhang Cheng smiled knowingly, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

“Awakening? No, I don’t think that’s the right word. I should describe it as rebirth. Yes, from that day on, I buried my past self and lived with a completely new identity. To avoid my differences from other members of my kind, I carefully hid myself and secretly observed the operation of the entire race. I eventually discovered that it was actually very fragile, so fragile that simply destroying the queen in charge of reproduction could plunge the race into utter ruin.”

When he said these words, Gru's tone was particularly strange, as if he was mocking something, or perhaps mocking himself.

Sensing the eerie atmosphere in the air, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but sigh: "Sigh... There's no need to say more. I think I know what choice you've made. To personally destroy the tribe that gave birth to and raised you is the only way to sever ties with the past and move towards the future. Just as I sacrificed my humanity and a part of myself, you have also paid a huge price for it."

“From that moment on, I vowed to destroy order and spread the sparks of chaos to every corner of the universe. How about forming an alliance with me? In some ways, we share many common ideas and philosophies, making us ideal natural allies,” Gru extended a meaningful invitation.

Unfortunately, Zhang Cheng refused without hesitation: "Sorry, let's forget about forming an alliance. You might not believe it, but those who ally with me usually don't end up well. At least so far, all my allies have either disappeared completely or turned against me. Besides, don't you think forming alliances is the act of the weak? Only when someone is in a weak position does they need the help of allies?"

Speaking of allies, he had quite a few feelings to share.

After all, he has formed alliances with at least several dozen people since the beginning, but interestingly, none of them have lasted until the end. Either they turned against each other halfway due to conflicts of interest, or they had ulterior motives and schemes against each other from the very beginning, wishing they could kill each other.

Therefore, allies are essentially a way for the weaker party to forcibly gather a motley crew together in order to increase their chances of victory, and they do not play a decisive role at all.

"Weakling? Hahahaha! I must admit, as a newcomer who hasn't yet fully grasped the true power of a Overlord, your arrogance is truly eye-opening. I'm quite curious now, if in the near future you fully master your own power, will you declare war on the other Overlords? You know, the entire universe has been silent for too long; perhaps it's time to start a new round of war." Gru laughed loudly, spreading his insect-like limbs and laughing unrestrainedly.

Just as he said, if the balance lasts too long, it will make these rulers with endless lifespans feel bored and lonely.

However, the fragile balance has now been broken. Chaos and Order, each having gained an extra spot, are already stirring up trouble behind the scenes. A three-way war that will determine the ultimate fate of the universe may break out at any time.

In particular, the neutral faction, which strives to maintain a balance of power, will be the first to be jointly suppressed.

"Don't rush! With my current strength, it's too early to talk about these things. Let's finish this game first, what do you think?" With that, Zhang Cheng raised his hand and snapped his fingers lightly, activating the huge magic mirror hanging on the wall.

moment!

The eerie and terrifying scenes of the island kingdom suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Unlike the last time, this time almost the entire island's inhabitants were parasitized by metal insects. They appeared lifeless on the surface, but were busy preparing for the impending war every day.

No conversation took place!

No entertainment!

All they have are extremely regular work and rest schedules!

Admiring the mechanical movements of the people in the mirror, Gru couldn't help but smile and exclaim, "My kids are doing a good job. In a while, we can move on to the expansion phase."

Chapter 1075 Civilization

“Yes, that’s right. Your children are indeed very capable. At this rate, the western continent will be under your control within a few years at most. But I really didn’t expect that you, as a member of the Chaos faction, would create life forms that contain the attribute of absolute order. Can you tell me what you were thinking back then?” Zhang Cheng turned around and asked a question that had been bothering him for a long time.

You should know that the monsters he created, although they could obey the commands of their commanders on the surface, were still full of madness and chaos in nature.

In other words, the commander can issue basic orders such as attack, retreat, and defend, but cannot make the instructions more detailed.

Because monsters are inherently chaotic, once they enter combat mode, they will no longer heed any orders and will do whatever they want.

The inherent chaos was fully revealed at this moment.

Moreover, although Zhang Cheng himself likes to make plans, he still occasionally disrupts the original plans.

Deep down, he is an extremely crazy and self-centered person. Once he goes crazy, even he himself is afraid of what happens afterward.

Everything indicates that chaos is a force that can change the essence of a living organism from the inside out, and a living organism that gains its approval can never be inclined towards order.

“Ah! So you noticed! I thought you were going to wait a long time before bringing this up,” Gru teased casually. “Actually, you only saw the surface of these little things, without truly perceiving their inner nature, that terrifying nature full of killing and destruction.”

"Please continue! I'm listening!" Zhang Cheng rested his chin on his hand, his eyes gleaming with intense curiosity.

In any case, the opponent is a veteran ruler, whose use and mastery of the rules are at least several levels above his. Of course, he should take the opportunity to learn from him. Even if it is not suitable for him, it is never a bad thing to refer to it.

“It’s very simple! The order you see now is merely a rudimentary stage. When my children expand their parasitic population to a certain extent and their technology reaches the space age, they will unleash a frenzied and irrational expansion mode. They will cleanse and devour every civilization they encounter through slaughter and extermination. This chaotic behavior will continue until the first advanced civilization emerges. In other words, they have been on a countdown to self-destruction from the very beginning. So the order you perceive simply does not exist; chaos is their true nature,” Gru explained calmly.

Undoubtedly, the life he created drew heavily on the ethnic group he was born into, while also incorporating some of his personal emotions.

After all, although the ruler has abandoned much of the past, some things will still remain with the memory, and may even be more unforgettable than when they were first experienced.

Unless some memories are erased, making oneself incomplete, even the most painful parts will remain forever.

Zhang Cheng could understand the other person, and he also understood that even he himself had not been able to get rid of the habits imposed on him by the human race, such as his aesthetic style, and the feeling of kinship and familiarity when he saw life forms that resembled humans.

Thinking of this, he suddenly changed the subject and asked with a smile, "What do you think civilization is?"

"Civilization?" Gru was clearly not used to such a quick and sudden change of topic, and he was stunned for a moment.

“That’s right! Civilization!” Zhang Cheng gave an affirmative answer without hesitation.

“Hmm… there are many definitions of civilization. Some are from a technological perspective, and some are from a cultural and social structure perspective. I don’t understand which one you are referring to?” Gru asked with interest.

It goes without saying that he's starting to get interested in this topic.

Zhang Cheng hesitated for a moment, then smiled and replied, "From a technological perspective, it's too brief and crude, not suitable for our discussion. Let's discuss it from the perspective of culture and social structure instead."

Gru nodded thoughtfully: "A good starting point. In my view, whether a race has entered the stage of civilization depends mainly on whether they have formed a stable social division of labor and power structure. This is the mark of civilization, and also the minimum threshold for civilization. If even this cannot be achieved, then an intelligent race does not deserve to be called civilized."

"A very clear explanation, and I can't find any reason to refute it," Zhang Cheng said approvingly with a smile.

It must be said that the sovereign who stands at the end of the evolution of all life in the universe has witnessed the rise and fall of too many civilizations, and has hit the nail on the head regarding the key to civilization.

Simply put, civilization is the process by which intelligent beings gradually gather together from primitive, wild tribes and establish cities.

In this process, the way of obtaining food through fishing and hunting will shift towards agriculture or nomadic life, ultimately leading to a leap in the division of labor and productivity.

"And what about you? What do you think civilization is?" After stating his opinion, Gru turned his gaze to Zhang Cheng.

The latter paused for a moment, then said with a touch of emotion, “I believe that civilization is a kind of memory, a kind of remembrance and recollection of the past rooted in a certain race, and also an indispensable inheritance. Do you see the natives of this planet? They are actually very similar to a certain era of my home planet. Although they are very primitive, very backward, and even seem so ignorant and foolish to us, it is undeniable that they created their own civilization. But now, because of our arrival, their civilization is undergoing an unprecedented upheaval. No one knows whether this interesting civilization will decline after this great war, or whether it will seize the opportunity to rise and embark on a different path.”

Are you just being sentimental?

"No! I'm just trying to appreciate and experience things from a different perspective. After all, I'm different from you; I've witnessed the rise and fall of too many races and civilizations. For me, all of this is still full of novelty, and I can't help but want to do some interesting experiments."

"An experiment? Can I know the specifics?"

Upon hearing the word "experiment," Gru immediately became excited, and two things on his head that looked like tentacles, but were actually some kind of signal receivers, flickered with a faint glow.

"What do you think would happen if I provided them with some technology that's beyond their comprehension?" Zhang Cheng grinned, revealing a wicked smile.

It's important to understand that when technology advances step by step in a normal, orderly manner, things are fine. However, if we suddenly acquire technology that far exceeds our current level, there are usually only two possibilities: one is that it triggers massive social unrest, ultimately leading to the death of a huge population; the other is that it leads to a frenzied war, causing the entire world to be destroyed along with it...

Chapter 1076 Know Yourself (Part 1)

"Exporting potentially dangerous technology to backward civilizations and then observing their reactions? I must admit, your idea is quite interesting, and it even piques my interest in observing and studying it." Gru made no attempt to hide his interest in this area, his tone filled with eager anticipation.

Restraint has never been the essence of civilization.

On the contrary, the essence of civilization is madness, unbridledness, and full of contradictions and violent conflicts.

In the constant competition and destruction, some civilizations will eliminate or absorb others, eventually forming a relatively integrated environment on the planet and finally entering the interstellar age.

This process is so brutal that there is less than a one in ten thousand chance of success. The rest are either bound firmly to their home planet by gravity, or perish in conflict due to the invention of some powerful and destructive weapon.

Having witnessed the devastation of nuclear weapons during the Cold War, Zhang Cheng was acutely aware of the potential for foolish mortals to act upon acquiring such powerful weapons. He shook his head with a smile: "No, I don't intend to merely observe. I want to cultivate a planet completely engulfed by chaos, a world filled with disorder, slaughter, and madness. I believe you can sense the seeds of chaos I've planted on this planet. Imagine the spectacular sight when it begins to take root and sprout!"

"Cultivate a chaotic planet?" Gru waved his hand in surprise, expressing his excitement.

“That’s right! I know it sounds like wishful thinking. Because the universe is currently maintained by three basic rules: order, chaos, and neutrality. No matter what celestial body it is, it will only have certain specific tendencies. It will not absolutely lean towards one side, nor will it exclude the other two rules. But I think that nothing can be perfect. There are always some unknown loopholes that can be exploited.”

At this point, Zhang Cheng paused deliberately and turned his gaze to the giant mural hanging on the wall.

The scene in the painting was none other than the spectacular scene of him personally injecting chaotic power into the earth not long ago, especially the overwhelming aura of destruction, which made people feel as if they were there.

Gru had undoubtedly also looked at the painting and instinctively asked, "Did you discover anything?"

Zhang Cheng nodded without hesitation: "Yes! I'm not quite sure yet whether it was an accident, a coincidence, or some kind of sudden enlightenment. It's very strange, and I can't describe it in words."

"In that case, I'll have high expectations. But have you chosen a target for the export of dangerous technology?" Gru clearly didn't intend to delve too deeply into the matter; it concerned each Overlord's understanding of their own power, a most private secret.

If you are too curious, it can cause the relationship between the two to deteriorate rapidly, and they might even fall out over it.

"It's chosen! Look, my servant has brought the most suitable target."

The words had barely left his mouth!

A soft knock came from outside the door of the room on the top floor of the tower, followed by Isolt's aged voice coming through the crack in the door.

“Master, please forgive my intrusion in coming at this time. However, I have brought someone who might be of interest to you.”

"Come in!" Zhang Cheng beckoned with his finger, and the previously closed door opened automatically.

To avoid alarming the two native inhabitants, Gru quickly isolated himself in the cracks of the three-dimensional universe, silently observing what would happen next.

“Master! This is the kingdom’s sixth princess—Villa. She desperately wants to see you.” Isolt knelt down and bowed deeply, displaying extraordinary humility.

In contrast, the princess following behind was quite bold, staring intently at Zhang Cheng, who was seated on the throne, and even taking in the surrounding displays, decorations and furnishings out of the corner of her eye.

Without a doubt, from the moment she entered the tower, she was constantly overwhelmed with awe.

Whether it's the countless giant jewels embedded in the bottom floor, the massive amounts of gold and silver items everywhere, or the magical puppets that look incredibly destructive, everything testifies to the wealth and power of the tower's owner.

Compared to it, the Royal Mage Tower in the capital, hailed as an architectural marvel, seemed like a shabby beggar's den.

Of course, being well-educated, Vilia did not show these complex feelings on her face. She politely performed a ladylike curtsy and greeted them in a melodious voice: "Greetings, great Lord of the Tower. I am the princess of the kingdom and also an envoy sent by the king."

"An envoy?" Zhang Cheng raised his eyebrows slightly, revealing a rather amused expression.

In his mind, an envoy is not someone that just anyone can become; one must not only have an exceptional mind and wit, but also be politically astute enough.

Clearly, a young woman in her early twenties does not have enough experience and knowledge.

“Yes! I would like to speak with you privately. What do you think?” Vilia said in one breath, uttering diplomatic words he had been preparing for a long time.

After all, Zhang Cheng's ability to maintain the appearance of someone in their early twenties is very deceptive, to the point that many people overlook his real age.

"Heh, you want to negotiate with me? Interesting! Isolde, didn't you tell this princess who I am?" Zhang Cheng rested his chin on his hand, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

Isolte quickly stepped forward and explained, “No, Master, I did not mention anything about your privacy to him. Besides, this princess grew up in a relatively isolated environment, surrounded by flattery and praise, so it’s inevitable that she might have some unrealistic ideas.”

"Ah! I see! An idiot who thinks the world revolves around her. In that case, let's take her to the underground labyrinth to experience what kind of people she's talking to. I don't want to talk to a self-important fool; at least let her understand her place." With that, Zhang Cheng deliberately waved his hand impatiently.

"Idiot and fool? Is that how you describe a princess and lady? How pathetic!" Vilia was clearly hearing this evaluation of herself for the first time, and her face flushed with anger.

“As you wish, great master.” Isolt dragged the princess out of the room despite her resistance.

As the door slammed shut, Vilia finally couldn't help but growl, "Let me go! What right does he have to insult me!"

"Shut up! If you don't want to die!" Isolt snapped coldly.

Chapter 1077 Know Yourself (Part 2)