A heavy silence consumed the air, stretching between me and Venus like an unspoken challenge.
His slip-up still echoed in my mind.
"The system has already started to interfere."
I had no time to dwell on his reaction because Damien, ever the opportunist, took that moment to speak.
"Since you're finally in the mood to listen, huh? Let me educate you, kid."
His voice carried an unusual weight, making my muscles tense.
"This world isn't special, Noah. There are millions just like it."
My thoughts stilled. "What?"
"You heard me." Damien sounded almost too nonchalant.
"You think this world is the only one? No. There are countless others—some thriving, some long dead, all overseen by a single governing force."
I swallowed. "The gods?"
"Close." He chuckled darkly. "But even they have something they answer to."
My grip tightened. "What is it?"
There was a pause, and then Damien finally said the name.
A strange chill ran down my spine.
"The Pagoda is the governing force behind all worlds," Damien continued, his tone dipping into something more serious.
"It is an entity created solely for the gods and by the gods. Every world—every single one—is monitored by it."
My head spun at the weight of his words. "You're saying The Pagoda… controls everything?"
"Not exactly," Damien said. "It doesn't interfere. It only observes and enforces balance. But here's the thing—" he paused for effect, "new worlds are rare."
I frowned. "How rare?"
"The last recorded one was created eons ago."
"Worlds aren't just made on a whim, Noah," Damien said. "Do you understand what that means?"
I did. And it made my skin crawl.
This world—my world—was new.
And that… that should have been impossible.
"So what does that mean for us?" I asked slowly.
"It means someone—or something—went against everything to create it."
A sinking feeling twisted in my gut. "Who?"
Damien hesitated. Then, in a voice softer than before, he spoke the name.
"The World Contractor."
The moment he said it, I knew this was exactly the missing piece I was searching for.
"Who is that?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
Damien let out a low chuckle. "An entity crazy enough to create a new world despite knowing it would attract the attention of the gods."
My blood ran cold. "You're telling me someone actually—"
"Yes." Damien cut me off. "And that's not even the worst part."
I stared at the ground, my mind spinning. "What could be worse than that?"
"The Pagoda would never allow an artificial world unless there was a hidden purpose behind it."
A sharp pain throbbed in my temple.
Something about that made my chest feel tight. My world—this world—wasn't meant to exist.
A creation that defied the natural order.
I swallowed hard. "Then… why does it feel so broken?"
The words left my lips before I even realized I was speaking.
This world felt incomplete.
There were inconsistencies. Flaws. The mere fact that I had a system when The Book of Sin clearly stated it should have been Azazel's…
Something was very wrong.
Damien's silence told me he had noticed it too.
"You're not wrong, kid."
I clenched my fists. "Then why? If this world was made deliberately, why does it feel like it's falling apart?"
Damien let out a slow breath. "That's what I've been trying to figure out."
My head snapped up. "You don't know?"
"Not yet." He sounded irritated at the admission. "But there's something missing, Noah. Something big. And until we figure it out, we're just running blind."
This wasn't just a story gone off track.
This was a conspiracy.
Before I could process it further, Venus let out a long, tired sigh.
"It's a big mess, Noah," he said, rubbing his temples. "You don't need to get involved."
I scoffed. "Not get involved? Are you serious?"
Venus looked unimpressed. "This is far beyond you."
"Far beyond me?" A dry laugh escaped my lips. "Venus, I don't think you get it. I've already been dragged into this from the moment I awakened."
Venus exhaled sharply. "Listen—"
"No," I cut him off. "You don't understand. You think I have a choice? You think I can just walk away?"
But then, before I could even think—before I could even stop myself, the words slipped out.
"I already have a system."
The air in the room turned deathly still.
Venus's eyes snapped to me in an instant.
For the first time since I entered the throne hall, I saw something close to shock on his face.
Faster than I could react, he was in front of me, gripping my shoulders.
His black eyes burned into mine.
"What did you just say?"
But it was already out. There was no taking it back now.
I met his gaze head-on. "I said I already have a system."
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he asked,
"Are you a champion?"
He thought I was chosen by a god?
Damien was losing his mind laughing in my head.
"Oh, you're in deep now, kid."
I swallowed. I couldn't let Venus know the truth.
So, I did the only thing I could.
"Something like that-"
Venus didn't speak. He just stared.
I held my ground, forcing myself not to look away.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the old man sighed.
"And I trust you won't tell me more?"
My pulse spiked. "Nope."
He didn't say anything.
But the way he looked at me—like he was picking apart every word I just said made my skin crawl.
Venus closed his eyes.
Relief flooded through me.
Because then, he said something that made my stomach drop.
"The gods will descend in a week."
Venus turned away, his voice eerily calm.
"In seven days, the gods will walk this world. And when they do—everything will change."
Because this wasn't just a deviation anymore.
This was the beginning of something much, much worse.