Chaos is a pitch-black blaze.

It is neither darkness nor shadow, but an all-encompassing blend of chaos, incorporating everything to the point where even the concept of 'everything' is subsumed by the chaos.

What it feels like to be scorched by the fiery chaos is somewhat complex and difficult to articulate.

But for number 10752, it took a significant stretch of time before it realized that being scorched by chaos equated to pain.

Seizing a handful of Primordial Star Marrow, shaping the basic form of a human, and then continually grilling it in the blazing black fire, at first, it would emit the most terrifying scream in the world, a sound of pain resonating throughout the Six-Layered Starry Abyss and ten-dimensional space, until the senses and thoughts were entirely scorched, and the originally spiritual body was baked and solidified. A gentle tap would cause the surface black ash to quickly peel and fall away, revealing the sturdy and immortal porcelain-like skin.

That was the birth of 10752, born from the most insignificant dust in the Starry Abyss, erasing all in fiery agony to become the finest, most loyal, and most fearless cannon fodder, cast onto the battlefront.

Deities likewise forged from the Starry Abyss, their battles were called epic tales. They could indulge in love unabashedly, enjoy the adoration of mortals and the shelter of faith, bask in glory and honor, valiantly fighting the Destroyers. Even if they perished, there were the Nether Abyss and the Lai Anding Immortal Spirit to welcome them back and see them through reincarnation.

So, what did the cannon fodder possess?

The answer is: a sword.

Crack!

Fierce impact broke the sword blade, and 10752 was immediately knocked to the ground.

10752's first battle was fought clumsily.

Its prototype was merely from the Artistic Spirit Race, and compared to the opponent's Crystal Dragon Hunter, its body was too short, barely reaching the opponent's chest.

When the opponent raised its neck, shouting "Sky, Sun, Strength" in Dragon Language, then swiftly transformed into a heavily armored Crystal Hunter King, it knocked 10752 down in a couple of moves. Even though others noticed the gap on the battlefield and rushed to help—the crystal blade flared out with a surge of iridescent rays, the Hunter King turned its wrist slightly, and instantly severed its fellow warrior at the waist.

Just as the Hunter King raised the blade, ready to strike down at 10752's head, the space above it twisted abruptly, a cerulean light shadow plummeted like a meteor, forcefully crushing the Hunter King.

Golden divine blood scattered outward, and 10752 lifted its head, gazing forward: seated atop the Hunter King's corpse was a high-rank Spiritual Warrior, whose red-black eyes indicated its allegiance to the Sovereign God Clan. Seven stars sparkled upon the long braids, golden filigree hollowed armor shined with astonishing light, and even the perilously gleaming blade resting by its side couldn't overshadow the indescribably endearing presence, making it almost impossible to hold ill will towards it upon sight.

The Sovereign God Clan, beautiful and mighty, possessing authority and power surpassing magical artistry.

Yet at this moment, this high-ranking Sovereign God Clan individual no longer gleamed with past radiance.

A large hole existed in the center of its hollowed chest armor, bearing compression marks of dark matter, clearly the handiwork of the Dark Titan clan, and the light in its eyes flickered unsteadily, divine power continuously escaping.

It was gravely injured—10752 considered—not merely that, it was virtually on the brink of death.

The Spiritual Warrior lay slumped on the corpse, utterly unable to stand, its head tilted—by the aesthetics of the Divine Clan, it was heart-achingly beautiful, yet the porcelain skin and jade-like bones suggested a delicateness like fragile porcelain. The fully covered face armor still failed to hide the softness and warmth exuding from the red-black eyes.

"Gelbroth's guards are indeed tough, even after distorting reality space, the darkness caught up."

The Sovereign God Clan individual murmured, glancing at 10752:

"A cannon fodder deity, by your looks, is it true you're from the Artistic Spirit Race? How pitiful, the chaos has burned away your magic abilities, it seems unlikely you can rescue me."

"May I assist."

10752 stiffly asked, then pointed behind:

"Approaching Oshen front line, seek aid."

"No, I am beyond help."

The Spiritual Warrior struggled to point at its chest:

"Darkness has swallowed my divinity, my power and blood are continuously being consumed, first the movement system, then the body structure, ultimately the entire life and soul… I might not even reach the Nether Abyss."

It paused, gazing at 10752:

"I cannot survive, but my task has to be accomplished by a deity… can you do it?"

10752: "Will do."

"Responding 'will do' without saying 'can' — that's not the answer I like."

It sighed helplessly, activated divine force, and brought a sealed letter from another dimension, passing it to 10752 out of thin air:

"I am known as Releti, representing the God of Reality. I am currently undertaking a significant task: deliver this letter to Your Excellency Morphederia. It could save many compatriots' lives."

10752 offered no comment, only secured the letter and turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Releti called from behind:

"With your stature, you can't even handle a Crystal Lizard… Do you still intend to traverse thousands of light years across the frontline, through the wrath of dragons and titans, to reach Haines?"

"Starry Abyss commands me to die."

"Then, I, in the name of the God of Reality, command you to come here."

10752 did not argue, instead it turned around and quickly came to Releti's side.

"A bit closer."

10752 knelt on one knee before it, Releti's tone immediately softened, raising its hand, gently stroking the digits over the number on 10752's chest with its left hand's twelve fingers:

"As cannon fodder, you're competent, but now what I need isn't cannon fodder—I see, your number is 10752—10752, let's make a deal."

10752 did not answer; everything about Him was consumed by chaos. In the established program, the Starry Abyss did not tell Him what to do, He just acted according to orders from higher-ups.

"You didn't speak, so I'll take it as your consent."

Releti took a slight breath, then pulled himself together:

"10752, from now on, I will transfer my divinity, strength, and mandate to you, to assist you in completing the task given to you."

"In return, you must live on... Only by living can you use my power to save more of your fellow companions."

"Of course, this may seem a bit selfish. Indeed, the deal isn't entirely fair, asking you, a cannon fodder deity, to live on, might be too much—"

"Name."

"...What did you say?"

"The Starry Abyss promised us cannon fodder deities: Name, Divinity, Mandate."

10752 said:

"You have given me divinity and mandate, but no name."

Releti nodded, a complex emotion flickered in her beautiful eyes:

"Name… yes, a name is indeed very important. It can be said there's nothing more important between the stars than 'Who am I.'"

10752 said nothing.

"..."

Releti put one hand on her chest, remained silent for a moment, and then said:

"I am about to die soon; darkness will swallow everything of mine. Leviathandal's Radiant Dragon daughter should be nearby. If I die at their hands, I will become their slave, wielding blades and swords against my fellow kin."

10752 said nothing.

"Actually, within the Sovereign God Clan, I am a fairly good little girl, although you might not feel it. I am actually quite beautiful, with many heroes from the Divine Clan intending to pursue me, to continue the divine flame with me. I love dressing myself up, enjoy mortal believers offering grapefruit as sacrifices, accompanied by melodies of the seven-stringed zither... yet all of this was destroyed by my divine duty."

Releti gently said:

"I have many things I love to do, and want to do. But, as the [God of Reality], my mandate is to bring cold and harsh revelations to people, to strip them of illusions and confront stark realities—ironic, isn't it? To this day, I cannot give up my fantasies... I want to love my fellow friends, want a world without Destroyers, where mortals and deities can live together in the Starry Abyss, beautiful, peaceful, harmonious, living happily forever."

10752 said nothing.

"10752, can you understand my feelings? In the face of death, this overwhelming urge to pour out all the accumulated resentment, anger, and sadness from my heart."

Releti quietly clenched her fist:

"I hate these Destroyers, I hate my divine duty and identity, I hate that I am not a deity of fantasy or dreamland, but a cold-blooded monster that shatters illusions—10752, I don't want to say this, but someone like you, who possesses nothing, without passion or desire, is most suitable to succeed me, to become the new [God of Reality]."

He looked at 10752, speaking solemnly:

"You have no emotion, no illusion, and your only bit of desire is to reclaim what the Starry Abyss owes you—how sad that is, just like the mandate of 'reality,' the saddest of all mandates. And the task I want you to do is even sadder, once you accept my task, you will forever carry the curse of reality."

He gently tapped the Sword of the Stars beside his hand, speaking:

"I understand what you want—10752, I will give you a name, then you must use this sword to pierce through my divine flame, completely erase my life, only this way can I avoid being enslaved by Titans and Giant Dragons, only this way can I escape the divine duty of reality—"

Before the words fell, Releti's eyes suddenly narrowed, she lowered her head, looking at the Stellar Blade thrust into her abdomen, her gaze slowly becoming peaceful and calm.

"Yes... this is it."

Releti lifted her hands, stained with golden divine blood, gently cupped the face of the diminutive cannon fodder deity, with divine power resonating, conveying thoughts:

"Keep the promise... live on for me."

10752 held the blade with both hands, completely unmoved by the other's liberation, coldly saying:

"Name."

"Yes, name... let me think, what should it be called?"

Releti's body fragmented bit by bit, the fragments of divinity and strength turned into a wind, enveloping 10752's whole body. The body, originally blackened by chaos, now bore a bright silver layer, and the burn marks on the armor were covered by deep azure.

Releti gazed at 10752's face—with the transfer of strength, the latter's head gradually obtained a clear outline of face armor and eyes.

"Name... even though you don't understand what a name means, you keep chasing it."

He smiled, saying:

"Leoz—this is your name. It means 'understanding' and 'awareness.'

"Principle? Bottom line? Ethics? Mission? No, I think none of that matters to you."

"May you one day find out what you truly desire."

His body completely dissolved and disintegrated, leaving only a low whisper, echoing gently in the starry sky:

"Go understand this world, and then know what you desire, Leoz."

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