CHAPTER 1284: CHAPTER 312 ANNAN’S LAYOUT

This was the first time Annan had learned of this open secret from the oldest batch of True Gods...

—That is, the question of "how powerful are the gods really."

Perhaps it was because he had recently encountered two rather disgraceful gods in succession, and even personally killed one of them, that Annan felt the gods weren’t far removed from the Truth Rank.

In a certain sense, that might indeed be the case.

Gods, when not using their divine powers, were essentially just long-lived Truth Rank Transcendents with infinite energy. Even when they did use their powers, it didn’t seem to make much of a difference... only to the extent of conveniently "managing this world."

But now Annan understood—the reason gods appeared "less powerful" was that all gods exercised restraint.

They could become stronger through proper means, as omnipotent and aloof as the gods in other tales... But becoming so would dilute their humanity, rendering them cold and indifferent, much like those gods of legend.

In simple terms, the gods had essentially agreed collectively to "resist competition." By doing so, they ensured the world could remain diverse and colorful... If ever a truly powerful external enemy or a near-apocalyptic catastrophe appeared, the gods would surely step forward to bear the burden.

This revelation, however, made Annan’s mood somewhat heavier.

Because it meant Annan might still be underestimating the power of The Worm.

That was an "enemy" even the gods, possessed of "infinite power," struggled to overcome...

"You’re asking about this because you’re planning to rebuild the Great Barrier?"

The Grandmother asked.

Annan nodded. "Yes."

He then recounted to the Grandmother the events and dialogue he had experienced when encountering Endymion.

Hearing this, the Grandmother furrowed her brows slightly. "The seed of the Great Barrier, huh..."

"Do you think it’s impossible?"

"Not at all. With the technological level of the Austerians during the Curse Energy era, developing a ’seed’ capable of reconstructing the Great Barrier was entirely possible. Not to mention that you found Endymion in the Curse Cellar."

The Grandmother shook her head and instead looked toward Annan. "But I get the sense... you don’t intend to sacrifice Endymion to rebuild the Great Barrier?

"Are you feeling pity for this ’child in the liminal state’—the one who’s theoretically your offspring?"

"I’ll be honest."

Annan took a deep breath. "Yes, I do feel pity; I also have a sense of justice that doesn’t want him to die as a tool before ever being born.

"But my reasoning leans more toward practicality. I won’t delay the reconstruction of the Great Barrier, or choose a harder path, merely because of pity for Endymion."

Endymion was originally designed to be a sacrificial pawn for rebuilding the Great Barrier.

According to the proper "method of use," he had to be sacrificed, and only then could the Great Barrier be regenerated.

It was like having a compressed backup of the "Unified Great Barrier" stored within Endymion’s being—using a Great Calamity Curio to break through the layers of seals on him and expand the barrier would enable its reconstruction.

If Annan chose to bypass the "correct method," which had a high likelihood of success, merely out of some misplaced compassion, and forcefully developed an untested alternative method without knowing its success rate... there’s no doubt this would be an irrational decision.

Annan couldn’t justify choosing a more "humane" route just because of a few casual words from a relative stranger whose only connection to him was ethical.

"The real reason, honestly, is because I don’t trust him."

Annan stated candidly. "Or rather, I don’t trust the Elven Emperor or the scholars of the past. If Endymion fails, then after his self-sacrifice, we wouldn’t be able to rebuild the Great Barrier at all.

"The question of success or failure comes down to a gamble—one in which everything has supposedly been prepared by former generations, and all the solutions meticulously arranged. I don’t believe there’s such an easy fix waiting for me, nor do I think such a monumental problem should be resolved in such a flippant manner.

"That’s why I intend to rescue Endymion instead. I want to analyze and research the Great Barrier within him—if the Elves of the past could achieve such technological expertise, I believe Salvatore might be able to replicate it."

Annan’s words were filled with admiration for his friend Salvatore.

In truth, he genuinely believed Salvatore to be a true genius.

Compared to him, Annan felt like a fraudulent genius—he had, after all, cheated.

From the very beginning, Annan had known many things that Salvatore, constrained by the limits of his era, didn’t know. He had also undergone professional education and training, specifically learning knowledge most ordinary people wouldn’t possess.

From the starting line, Annan had been far ahead of Salvatore. And now Salvatore had managed to catch up purely through his own effort, earning Annan’s deep respect.

—Had this world lacked someone named "Annan," Salvatore would still have blossomed into an extraordinary figure. He would have become the Tower Master, inherited the Sage’s Sacred Flame, devised artificial methods for recreating the Philosopher’s Stone... Perhaps he might even have ascended to godhood via another "mirror."

Annan believed that if Salvatore could access all the "research materials" and obtain sealed samples...

—He might well develop a Unified Great Barrier unique to this era and the people of Aesirland.

"Rethinking my original decision now, it was entirely the right one."

Annan added. "Considering The Worm’s ability to alter the past from the future, I completely distrust anything that’s too far removed—especially events so distant that there are no records or witnesses left.

"I’m almost certain The Worm must have meddled in it. After all, the Great Barrier isn’t something irrelevant to it... It has been sealed by this barrier for so long; there’s no way it wouldn’t be paying attention."

"You make a valid point."

After some thought, the Grandmother agreed with Annan’s perspective.

Compared to relying on the residual tricks left behind by the ancient Elven Empire, gifting him a Great Calamity Curio to activate this power and hoping for positive results...

Using it as a living repository of preserved data, unlocking the many "sample libraries" left behind by the Elves for research and education, and ultimately developing a new Great Barrier for this era was a safer, more rational, and more modern approach.

After all, technological advancement cannot depend solely on archaeology.

"So, my plan is," Annan said solemnly, "to first establish a legitimate lineage to ensure the foundation of the ritual. Then I’ll have Kafney and the others retain the position of ’Emperor’ for me. Once I’ve departed this era, you’ll release Endymion, matured enough by then...

"Allow Endymion to assist Salvatore in his research, replicating Elven-era technologies—strive to develop Curse Energy-based techniques that won’t rely on Curse Energy as a medium. Do your best to create a new generation Unified Great Barrier as soon as possible.

"As the titular Emperor, I won’t need to intervene or take any action. Kafney, as the ’Empress,’ can handle these affairs on my behalf—I wouldn’t even need to appear in person, and people would still believe I’m ever-present.

"As for rumors and speculation, they can be cleaned up by the Winter’s Hand and the Three-Eyed Crow. Without concrete evidence, no one can definitively claim ’the Emperor doesn’t exist’—especially when the True Gods themselves believe he exists."

"...In other words, you aim to become a ’non-existent Emperor’?"

The Grandmother hesitated, confirming Annan’s idea.

Annan clarified, "To be precise, a ’non-existent Divine Emperor’—an Emperor capable of becoming a True God at any time."

"—What I hope for is this: that when I arrive in the future, over a century from now, the world will appear as follows—people unwaveringly believe in the existence of the Divine Emperor, even though no mortal has seen him in a hundred years; but anyone with the authority to meet the Divine Emperor, as well as all the high-ranking gods, are certain he exists and is indeed the ruler of the world."

And this was merely one of Annan’s strategies for countering The Worm.