Shelly's Whistle

Because Gamel had been recognized after intruding into the Thunder Temple, its people were searching for him everywhere. As a result, he did not dare remain in Thunder City.

He took refuge with Oran in a small town near the marsh lake, staying in a modest wooden cabin.

Inside the cabin, the powerful alchemist spent his days holding his Lamp of Covenant and muttering to himself, seemingly lost in thought.

"Authority of Desire."

"Lamp... Tower Spirit mysteries... reincarnation..."

These were things Gamel could not fully grasp.

He often stood by the great lake, his eyes fixed on the distant depths of the marsh.

Oran had once ventured into the heart of the marsh, only to return without finding anything.

Gamel understood that Oran was waiting for the Witch's Ritual.

It seemed he was hoping to catch a glimpse of the Sky Beast God's shadow.

Gamel was also waiting for the Witch's Ritual. However, compared to the calm and rational Oran, he always felt restless and irritable.

He was not sure if everything Oran said was true. Would the god truly become enraged? Would the god's wrath really spare the entire Thunderlake Kingdom as Oran had predicted?

But Gamel did not know that Oran was not seeking the Sky Beast God. Instead, he was searching for an opportunity to witness even greater existences.

The supreme gods who had created everything.

Those supreme gods seemed to remain in the Lost Kingdom above the sea of clouds, and this was the real reason Oran was unwilling to leave.

Gamel stepped out of the wooden cabin and glanced at Oran, who was completely absorbed in staring at a lamp in broad daylight. He spoke cautiously.

"Sir, I want to go take a look at the docks. I might be back a bit late."

Oran did not look at him, did not even move his mouth, but his voice transmitted into Gamel's mind.

Oran had existed as a puppet for most of his life. Compared to speaking with his mouth, he was far more accustomed to this kind of mental dialogue.

"I am only a temporary guest. You belong here, so your choices are your own."

"But I must warn you not to attempt anything reckless."

Oran's caution was clear. He wanted Gamel to avoid any drastic actions at the docks.

"Those who commit wrongs in the name of the divine will inevitably face the consequences."

"Those who misuse the name of the divine to fulfill their personal desires will ultimately face judgment."

"It is only a matter of time."

"And your impulsive actions may bring about even greater calamities."

"Gamel, you are not a savior. This world has its own order."

Recently, Gamel had been following Oran's words with an obedience that bordered on reverence.

He had come to realize Oran's strength was far beyond what he had imagined. Oran's knowledge, his understanding of the world's mysteries, and his perspective that transcended both the era and the world itself left Gamel in awe.

Oran seemed like a prophet, able to see the trajectory of certain events in advance.

This even faintly reminded Gamel of a certain existence: a divine being.

For Oran, however, this was simply the application of his knowledge and the wisdom gained from living for over a century.

There was nothing new under the sun. For an existence that had lived long enough, this world was like a continuously repeating circle.

So-called new things were merely things that had happened before, now happening once again.

Although Gamel could not fully understand Oran's words, he still answered earnestly.

"Sir, I promise to be calm. I just need to take a look."

"I feel uneasy. The thought of not seeing it makes me restless."

In the distance, the turbulent river water rushed endlessly, forming a river bay and a natural dock in this area.

A large shipbuilding workshop stood here, where Thunderlake Kingdom's warships were crafted.

This time, however, the workshop had undertaken a special task. To construct the witch's carriage, a gift to the divine, a large number of artisans and laborers were gathered, all working tirelessly to complete the project on time.

These were no ordinary ships. They were large vessels adorned with intricate cloud patterns. Railings shaped like flowing clouds lined both sides, and the ships themselves were crafted from white wood found only in the Thunder Marsh forests.

At this moment, the ships were sliding down the tracks one by one, gradually entering the vast waters.

The entire shipbuilding workshop erupted in cheers, and the banks of the river were crowded with people celebrating the sight.

"Look, it's going down!"

"It's entering the water! The ship is in the water!"

"That's the witch's carriage! Look how magnificent it is. Her Holiness will ride it to the Kingdom of God."

"Look at that design. It's like a palace of the gods floating on a sea of clouds."

Everyone watched the ships glide into the water one after another, their minds filled with visions of the vessels navigating the misty depths of the Thunder Marsh.

This was the most serene and sacred forbidden domain, a place beyond the reach of mortals.

They longed to step aboard the ships themselves, dreaming of a journey to the Kingdom of God.

Gamel stood among the crowd, his gaze fixed on the ships, his expression a mix of emotions.

Before long, the ships were launched into the water, just as the sky began to display unusual phenomena.

The cloud layers began to shift in a rhythmic pattern, as if responding to an unseen call.

However, the movement spanned such an immense range that it went unnoticed by anyone watching.

After repeating the motion twice, the will guiding the sea of clouds seemed to sense something unusual.

It shifted its consciousness from the kingdom in the sky and directed it toward the earth and the mortal world.

Their gaze, which had been fixed on the supreme sovereign gods, now turned downward to the earth it carried.

The Sky Beast God's eyes swept across the vast land, passing over marshes and forests before finally settling on the shipbuilding workshop and the ships floating on the river.

In an instant, wild winds surged across the earth with unstoppable force. The gusts sent people on both banks of the river tumbling, while debris was lifted from the ground and hurled into the sky.

Woo woo!

The wind howled through the air.

Their sound was deep and vast, resembling the mournful cries of the sky or the low call of a distant horn.

The echo reverberated across the land, filling the atmosphere with an oppressive weight that stirred an unshakable sense of unease in the hearts of all who heard it.

By the river, the snake people swayed one after another, shielding their eyes against the wind as they looked toward the distance.

Each of them felt their hearts beating like drums. The thump, thump, thump seemed to pass through their bloodlines and echo in their minds.

Unease grew in their hearts, but they did not know where that unease originated from.

"Where is this strong wind coming from?"

"This wind feels so unusual."

"Why did the wind start so suddenly?"

The wind sweeping across the land was only the beginning.

Soon after, dark clouds began to gather in the sky.

The white clouds swirled together like a vortex, descending toward the ground.

The sky, which had been slowly dimming, suddenly turned as dark as a moonless night.

The once white cloud layer shifted to gray and eventually became pitch black.

A thunderclap roared from within the dark clouds, its sound so powerful it seemed to tear at everyone's eardrums.

Boom!

Lightning streaked across the sky, followed by the roar of thunder as torrential rain poured down from above.

The wind howled fiercely, the rain lashed the earth, and the thunder echoed through the heavens.

The three forces of nature collided in a chaotic symphony.

The crowd scattered in panic, their shouts and cries blending with the storm. No one could comprehend why the sky had turned so violent so suddenly.

"Quickly, run! It's starting to rain!"

In the chaos, everyone seemed consumed by panic.

"Cover the wood, cover the wood! Do not let it get wet!"

The workers from the shipbuilding workshop seemed slightly more composed. They felt their way back into the workshop and immediately sprang into action.

"What about the ships? What are we going to do about the ships?"

Someone glanced nervously toward the river, but aside from shadows flickering in the lightning flashes, there was nothing visible. The curtain of rain obscured everything, and the wild wind made it impossible to even keep their eyes open.

"It's completely dark! I can't see anything at all!"

More people ran aimlessly across the drenched ground.

"The wind is too strong! We can't even tell where we are! Everyone, stop running around!"

A voice called out, but one person ran toward the riverside, heading directly into the storm's center.

Amid the strange celestial phenomena, humans seemed as insignificant as ants.

All they could do was hide, wander aimlessly, and feel utterly powerless.

In the darkness, Gamel hurriedly climbed a tower. Once at the top, he summoned his Lamp of Covenant and carefully lit the lamp fire, its glow piercing through the stormy night.

He adjusted the angle, casting the light into the darkness and illuminating the curtain of rain and the stormy sky.

Many people discovered the light Gamel had lit.

"Look! Over there!"

"There's a light! Let's head that way!"

Everyone hurried in a swarm toward the light, moving away from the river and gradually leaving the most dangerous part of the storm.

Some people rushed into the tower to take shelter, while others found refuge in nearby buildings.

The sudden wind and rain were overwhelming, filling the air with an almost unbearable intensity.

Boom!

Thunder roared repeatedly, each clap louder than the last.

Crash!

The rain poured down relentlessly, as if trying to drown the entire world beneath its weight.

At that moment, waves surged on the river, and the water swelled violently.

The wild wind whipped up massive waves, transforming them into towering waterspouts that hurled the ships into the sky.

On this river, a storm of such magnitude appeared that it rivaled those seen in the open ocean.

To mortal eyes, it seemed as though the entire world had been consumed by fury.

A lightning bolt streaked down from the heavens, striking the newly completed witch's ships. In an instant, they were torn apart, reduced to ash, and scattered across the waves.

One rainstorm and one thunderbolt were all it took to destroy the witch's carriage.

This was the Sky Beast God's warning. It was the first response the god of Thunderlake Kingdom had ever given them, and it came in this manner.

From the tower, Gamel watched the entire scene unfold.

The distance made it hard to see clearly, but he noticed that after the flash of light, the ship's shadow vanished.

Maybe it was swallowed by the river water. Maybe it was struck by lightning and scattered.

Whatever the cause, it was gone.

He could not tell if this was the force of nature at work or if some greater existence was silently influencing everything.

"Haha!"

"Gone?"

"Truly gone... it's good that it's gone!"

"All of it is gone."

Gamel was overjoyed, his reaction completely unlike everyone else around him.

Gamel's loud laughter was conspicuous, completely out of place amid everyone else's fear and confusion.

Someone looked up at the tower and asked him, "What are you laughing at?"

Gamel replied with a wide grin, "The ships are gone. The Witch's Ritual cannot take place now."

The crowd taking shelter from the rain inside the tower erupted into a flurry of voices.

Someone asked in alarm, "The ships are gone? What do you mean they are gone?"

Another person added with disbelief, "Those were the carriages built for the witch, offerings meant for the divine. How could they just vanish?"

Some individuals attempted to venture into the storm to see for themselves, but the relentless wind and rain drove them back, forcing them to return to the safety of the tower.

One person turned to Gamel and shouted, "The ships are gone, and you are standing there laughing? How can you find this funny?"

Gamel's expression remained unshaken as he responded, "Why should I not laugh? This foolish ritual is nothing but an insult to the divine, carried out in the name of god."

"You should be relieved, even grateful, that the ships are gone," he added firmly.

The people inside the tower were unwilling to listen to Gamel's explanation. They charged up the stairs, and halfway up, they saw his face clearly.

Immediately, someone recognized Gamel. The temple had been searching for him all over Thunder City.

"It's him! That's the heretic who entered the temple and threatened the witch! He's the one the temple is looking for!"

"Catch him! Quickly, don't let him get away!"

"Don't let him escape!"

But Gamel turned and leaped from the tower, vanishing into the darkness.

The storm in the sky gradually subsided, though the rain did not completely stop. It softened from a torrential downpour to a gentle drizzle.

The Sky Beast God had destroyed the ships crafted by mortals, delivering both a response and a warning.

They did not require mortal sacrifices, nor did they accept them.

In its urgency, it had no interest in engaging with these mortals. Its divine role was to carry the earth and oversee the operation of the ecological cycle. This was its responsibility as a god.

Now, it had a more significant task to attend to, a temporary mission entrusted by the Life Sovereign.

The people from the shipbuilding workshop slowly walked out. They saw mountains of lumber blown down, much of it swept into the river.

The roofs of many workshop buildings had been overturned.

Looking again toward the river, everyone's faces turned deathly pale.

The ships were gone.

The witch's carriage, their gift to the divine, was gone.

The official managing the shipbuilding workshop also collapsed at this moment, his entire body going limp on the ground like a puddle of mud.

"The ships... are gone?"

"It is over, everything is over."

"Quickly report to His Majesty the King and the Chief Divine Servant!"

By the time Gamel returned to the wooden cabin on the hillside, the sky had already turned dark.

The warm glow of lights from the cabin was visible even from a distance.

He hurried up the slope with excitement, pushed the door open, and stepped inside, eagerly looking around for Oran.

He found Oran standing by the window, quietly watching the light drizzle outside.

Oran was clearly in his God's Form. He had inscribed a divine technique upon himself that influenced cognition.

This technique made anyone who saw him disregard his divine form, treating him as an ordinary snake person instead.

No one could see through his true appearance and apostle identity unless they were another apostle.

"Sir, I have returned."

Gamel pushed through the door, his clothes drenched and water dripping from him as he wiped his face vigorously.

Despite his efforts, the smile on his face remained unmistakable.

Oran did not turn to acknowledge him. His gaze was fixed on the distance, as though searching for something beyond the sea of clouds.

In a quiet voice, he spoke the name of that existence revered in Thunderlake Kingdom.

"Sky Beast God."

"The power of Life's demigod is truly terrifying."

With a single thought, it could alter celestial phenomena and clouds. Between breaths, storms would form, and their willful fury would manifest as thunder.

Compared to the deity of wisdom, existences like the Sky Beast God seemed to align more closely with how mortals defined deities in some ways.

They were the earth and the sky. They were thunder and storms.

The Wisdom deity's power was strong in the mind, while Life's demigod possessed strength rooted in the body. On the surface, the power of Life's demigod appeared more straightforward and tangible.

Gamel did not hear Oran's quiet murmur. He was entirely caught up in the joy of knowing the Witch's Ritual could not proceed as planned. To him, the unexpected downpour had achieved everything he had wished for.

"Sir, I have some good news to share with you, and you will never guess what it is."

"The Witch's Ritual cannot take place now. All of the ships were destroyed by a sudden rainstorm. They were either swept to the bottom of the river or scattered and carried away by the current."

"Not a single one remains. They are all gone."

Oran turned away from the window and glanced at the young man. Gamel was busy wiping his face, his happiness evident in every movement.

"I saw."

Oran closed the window, sitting down in the chair.

He thought for a moment before speaking to Gamel.

"Gamel, this was not some celestial phenomenon."

"This was the Sky Beast God giving us a warning, a warning to Thunderlake Kingdom."

"They do not desire sacrifices from mortals."

"Even less so the kind of offerings this kingdom has chosen to make."

Oran even speculated that if the Creator had not been present, the Sky Beast might not have taken the time to issue a warning at all.

However, without the Creator's presence, the Sky Beast likely would not have cared enough to intervene.

The difference between good things and bad things was sometimes truly difficult to define.

"The Sky Beast God is not an ordinary divine being. They are the divine presence left in the mortal world by the Life Sovereign to carry the earth. They do not require mortal faith."

"Even now, I still cannot fully understand how the Earth Witch of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents came to be."

"How could someone ascend from a mortal body to become an apostle of the Beast God?"

Oran's thoughts flew to the distant Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents, to that blind prophet maiden who lived in seclusion at the foot of the Mountain of Life's Origin.

Compared to the one in Thunder City, this one was the true apostle, inheriting the faith and guardianship passed down through the ages.

"Perhaps she had to endure unimaginable pain, pay a price beyond common understanding!"

Oran understood that no power in this world came without a cost.

Everything had its price, and it had been determined long ago. Some people paid the price first and then received what they sought, step by step. Others received what they desired first, only to pay an unimaginably terrible price later.

Gamel struggled to fully grasp these words. At that moment, his thoughts were more focused on the Sky Beast God's warning.

"The god's warning?"

Gamel suddenly looked toward the door, gazing up at the sky.

"Does that mean... the divine is right there, in the sky?"

The god's will had already faded, yet Gamel felt the presence of the Sky Beast God all around him.

The earth beneath his feet, the wind that howled endlessly, and the rain that fell without pause from the sky all seemed to carry traces of their power.

Recalling the terrifying celestial phenomena he had witnessed before, Gamel finally grasped the true magnitude of divine power.

For the first time, he understood what it meant to face a divine being.

Mortals often claimed that gods were omnipotent, but saying it aloud was entirely different from experiencing it firsthand.

The endless sea of clouds swirling above, the storms and thunder born from a single breath, were beyond anything he could have imagined.

The disasters that mortals could never hope to resist were nothing more than the natural release of that majestic divine's presence. There was no need for deliberate punishment, no need to strike down mortals to enforce discipline.

The gods only had to release their power, their breath, their voice, or their will.

And the world would be reshaped by disasters that seemed apocalyptic.

Gamel's entire body turned cold. The joy that had lit up his face vanished, replaced by beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Sir, do you think they will give up after this?"

Oran replied, "It is not certain."

"Mortals are not like gods. They struggle to comprehend the warnings of the divine."

"People often refuse to accept the truth. They believe only what they wish to believe. They create an answer that suits them, then search for evidence to support that answer."

"And in the end, they tell others, 'See, this is the truth.'"

Gamel frowned, his voice filled with doubt. "Are people truly capable of being so foolish?"

Gamel claimed he did not believe it, yet deep down, he felt a faint sense of conviction.

If Oran had not warned him, would he not have been just as foolish as the others?

Oran's seemingly superhuman wisdom was not merely intelligence. It stemmed from his understanding of the divine and his knowledge of the world's truths, which gave him an unparalleled perspective.

As Oran spoke, a sudden realization crossed his mind.

"Gamel, you did not do anything, did you?"

Gamel paused, then fell into recollection.

"I did not do anything?"

"I saw a lightning bolt fall from the sky, then the ships that had just entered the water and stopped at the dock disappeared."

Gamel then told Oran what he had done next.

"I only saved some people during the storm. If I hadn't helped, those people running around like headless flies could have been hurt, or worse!"

"But in the end, they did not even thank me. Instead, they treated me as if I were a bad person."

Gamel appeared slightly bewildered.

Oran's expression shifted, his eyes growing intense as he studied Gamel for a long moment.

He observed this compassionate and upright young man.

At last, he let out a deep sigh.

"Gamel," Oran began, his tone measured and deliberate. "Do you understand? From the perspective of an ordinary person, saving people was not a mistake."

"But from where I stand now, with clarity and reason, I feel what you did was not entirely right."

Gamel looked puzzled. "I... was not right?"

"I saved those people. How could that possibly be wrong?"

On the other side, Shelly had just finished speaking with the Sky Beast and hurried back into the Wisdom Palace. The Blood Mist Cups bloomed in vibrant red, their petals swaying gently as if welcoming her return.

The palace was filled with these stunning red flowers, their color as vivid as blood. They seemed to bloom with all their strength, showcasing their unique beauty unlike anything else in the world.

The sun had just dipped below the sea of clouds, and the moon began its ascent, appearing above the cloud layer.

She walked past, and the Blood Mist Cups swayed to make way for a path.

That path led directly to the depths of the sea of flowers, leading to the figure sitting before the glass-covered garden.

She rushed over, leaning on the armrest of the stone bench.

She was used to this motion, always leaning by God's side as she spoke to Him.

Her voice was loud and sometimes seemed noisy, but in the cold temple, it brought a sense of liveliness.

Hila, on the other hand, preferred to stand quietly by God's side, speaking in soft whispers as she watched Him.

"God, I went to ask."

"The big jellyfish is very obedient, it doesn't eat people at all."

Shelly gestured with her hands, showing how enormous the beast was and how small the snake people were in comparison.

"Besides, snake people are so small, it wouldn't even be worth the effort to eat them."

Shelly spread her arms wide, drawing an enormous circle in the air as if trying to embrace the entire world.

"If they were going to eat, why not just gobble up the whole world?" she said with a playful grin.

Wisdom Ability Users who devoured their own kind could make use of the other's divine blood. Although there were significant drawbacks that were difficult to resolve, it was still something that could be utilized.

However, Ruhe Beasts were demigods of Life and had no need for wisdom bloodlines, as those conflicted with their own power.

To Ruhe Beasts, these intelligent species were no different from jungle beasts.

Yin Shen looked at Shelly's rolling eyes, "You heard."

Shelly said, "I wasn't eavesdropping, you just didn't notice me."

How could Yin Shen not have noticed her? He was just too lazy to expose her.

Shelly continued, "The big jellyfish said it has no need for the offerings of those people. It finds their actions tiresome."

"Surely, after this, those mortals will stop their sacrifices."

Yin Shen understood that everything Shelly did was in vain.

Even so, He gently touched Shelly's head and said, "Shelly, you did very well."

This time, Yin Shen did not share any profound principles with her.

Hila enjoyed discussing such matters with Yin Shen because she cared deeply about people and paid close attention to the mortal world.

Hila was born from Yin Shen's power, her Dream Realm connected to the dreams of all beings. She was the second Spirit personally created by Yin Shen after Polo. While not a naturally born sovereign, she was distinct from ordinary Spirits.

Shelly, however, could not grasp these concepts, nor did she have any interest in such discussions. Even if she could understand, it might have prevented her from becoming the Life Sovereign destined to live eternally.

He had tried to help her see the world from an ordinary person's perspective. In the past, Yin Shen would hold her hand and describe how He had viewed the world when He was still mortal. But in the end, He realized something.

Shelly saw the world with an eternal mindset.

She would never grow or change because she was a deity born eternal. Everything she had now, her body, her heart, and her soul, was already perfect and unchanging.

People changed over time because they were fleeting, like apples that gradually rot as the years pass. Shelly, on the other hand, would remain the same. Time could not alter her, nor could it wear her down.

She was simple and happy, and that seemed to be enough. It was something that even made Yin Shen feel a twinge of envy.

Shelly leaned on the armrest, nuzzling Yin Shen with her head. Then, she took out the whistle Yin Shen had given her.

Beep beep~

Shelly grinned at Yin Shen, "I really like this whistle. I want to keep it safe."

"I’m always so careful when I use it, scared it might break."

Yin Shen knew that Shelly loved to store some things, even Ruhe Beasts had this habit.

"Then you must protect it well. Do not let it disappear."

"After all, many things are fragile and too easily lost compared to you."

Shelly was somewhat worried, "What if it really breaks?"

"I will make you a new one," Yin Shen said with a gentle smile.

Shelly laughed, "You're eternal, so I'll always have a whistle, right?"

"Guess I don't need to worry about it breaking after all."

After saying this, she ran off.

She darted back and forth through the sea of Blood Mist Cup flowers and the palace. The flowers rose around her, hiding her figure, but the sound of a whistle echoed from the depths of the blooms.

Beep beep~

The sound rose and fell.