Only God

So,

The devils' reaction was like that of metals undergoing vigorous chemical reactions in an alchemy room.

After all, who could have imagined that, in this world, there would be a palace left for evil?

The devils quickly adapted to life in the palace and ceaselessly drew upon their hosts' evil thoughts.

They kept drawing until the host's evil thoughts dried up, at which point the host would face one of two situations.

One was that, due to the fading of evil thoughts, they would feel bored, gloomy, and pained, ultimately deciding to wash their hands clean and reform.

The other was that the devils, because of their immense demand for evil thoughts, continuously stimulated the host to commit greater and more numerous evils, seducing the host by various means to draw more evil thoughts.

These two situations often occurred simultaneously.

This was why those who committed evils often felt remorse, yet were unable to stop their wicked actions and could only make one mistake after another.

Yet some, after committing evil acts, managed to halt their wrongdoing in time due to the emptiness and guilt in their hearts.

Seeing the devils gradually getting back on track, Schiller nodded in satisfaction.

He had previously promised Sofia that he would not lead this group of devils to establish any sort of civilization, so after the devils had formed a scale, Schiller turned away and completely let the group of devils roam free.

Now, he had more important matters to attend to.

To this day, Schiller's mission had still not ended.

He was the prophet of a new era, but the new era had not fully arrived.

Just as Solamus once journeyed for nearly a thousand years upon the earth and finally, after the strife among the gods, sounded the horn for Heaven's descent, the world, ravaged by the suffering of all beings, embraced rebirth.

Schiller believed that discovering the path of God's creation and spreading the forty scriptures across the earth was just part of his mission; his duty extended beyond that.

"God, the new era you speak of surely isn't just about the path of God's creation,"

the Great Angel murmured as he gazed toward a certain direction.

He felt that merely the arrival of the path of God's creation did not fully qualify as a new era.

Even though he had no doubts about the power of the path of God's creation to transform the world, he felt it was not enough, it was more than that.

The vast, miles-stretching Cloud Sea seemed to appear before him once more; Schiller gazed at it for a while, hesitating in his heart, contemplating whether he should return to Heaven.

He couldn't make up his mind for a moment, even considering asking Sofia for her opinion.

But in the end, Schiller shook his head.

If he asked Sofia, the Fairy Queen would certainly persuade him to go back to the Cloud Sea.

"But how could I neglect my mission now?"

Schiller mused to himself,

"And besides, if I return now, wouldn't that be letting Solamus look down on me?"

But the most important reason, he did not voice; that reason lay hidden deep within his heart because he himself did not wish to face it, so he did not realize it.

After pondering, Schiller made up his mind; he decided not to go to Heaven, nor did he wish to meet with God.

Without meeting with God, how could he know the direction of the future?

The Great Angel's gaze slowly moved toward a location in the Celestial Kingdom.

"Yes, how could I have forgotten."

In the vast expanse of the Celestial Kingdom, among tens of thousands of stars, a divine being awakened to self-awareness since ancient times, building the Country of Divines brick by brick with Shan'en.

This divine being enjoyed immense prestige within the Celestial Kingdom, but after Shan'en passed away, he shut himself away, rarely answering believers' prayers and lived a life akin to that of a hermit.

"If anyone could foresee the landscape of the future, it would be Kagawus,"

According to the scripture of the Three-eyed Ape People, in the distant past, Kagawus had prophesied the descent of Heaven tens of thousands of years later.

Even though this myth, inscribed in the scriptures, was heavily contested by the believers of other deities, who accused it of being a story fabricated by the Three-eyed Ape People to glorify themselves, and even the believers of the Prophetic God were uncertain about it, taking an evasive stance in the face of related queries.

But Schiller, as a Great Angel, knew that there was truth to Kagawus' prophecy regarding the descent of Heaven.

Admittedly, it was with God's acquiescence.

But this was sufficient to prove Kagawus' mastery of prophecy.

Making up his mind, Schiller did not hesitate to leave the Historical Star under his feet, allowing the devils to grow wild there.

In no time, the Great Angel set foot in the Country of Divines.

The Country of Divines still showed a thriving and flourishing scene, gathering all that was beautiful and good beyond the imagination of mortals, in this resplendent land. Yet every deity knew that, since Shan'en's death, the country had already lost its core and its existence had become a mere formality.

If it weren't for the path of God's creation stirring the gods, the gates of the Golden Hall might not have opened again.

Schiller ascended the steps to the fore of the Prophetic Temple.

He raised his hand and gently knocked on the tightly closed doors.

Moments later, the Great Angel sensed a surge of divine power inside the temple, as if probing the identity of the visitor.

The doors then slowly opened, accompanied by a heavy noise, and thick dust rolled down.

Schiller looked inside and saw the Prophetic God Kagawus, clad in a toga.

"Truly, a rare visitor."

The long-secluded Kagawus couldn't hide the astonishment in his eyes,

"I have never hosted an angel before."

Schiller stepped forward, entering the temple,

"There's a first time for everything.

Kagawus, I am the first Great Angel to seek a prophecy, and I hope I am the last."

Hearing Schiller's words, the Prophetic God replied,

"Who can be certain about matters of fate?"

Then, as if thinking of something, Kagawus added,

"Except... our Father."

As the God of Prophecy, Kagawus's vision encompassed a multitude as vast as the sea of clouds, and for this reason, He understood far better than the Gods of the Celestial Kingdom the might of the Father of all Gods.

"Today, you have come to seek a prophecy?"

Kagawus asked directly.

"I have come to seek a prophecy."

Schiller said.

The Prophetic God looked puzzled, a genuine bewilderment rising in his heart. Kagawus couldn't understand why Schiller, as a Great Angel, would come to him for prophecy. Shouldn't he consult the Father in Heaven instead?

Unless...

The prophecy he sought was something he didn't want the Father to know?

But what could possibly be hidden from Him?

"It's nothing but folly..."

Kagawus murmured to himself.

Although quietly spoken, Schiller still heard it.

The Great Angel gave a wry smile, then shook his head and said,

"You do not understand, Kagawus,

He naturally knows everything, just as a musician knows his lyre.

But He still grants us the freedom of will unobserved, and unless necessary, He doesn't peer directly into our hearts."

Kagawus, upon hearing this, nodded slightly, agreeing with the words.

After all, Schiller understood the Father of all Gods much better than he did.

"So, what prophecy do you wish to seek?"

Kagawus spoke up,

"Though I have refused many divines over the years... I am pleased to serve a Great Angel."

Schiller nodded.

Then, he took a deep breath and slowly stated,

"Kagawus, the prophecy I ask of you is no ordinary matter."

From the moment He pushed open the doors, the Prophetic God Kagawus had been psychologically prepared for this and nodded without hesitation.

"I understand, of course.

I hope that, after this prophecy, one day the Great Angel will serve me in return and lend a helping hand."

Schiller replied,

"That is only natural."

Kagawus said,

"Then, please speak,

I will consider the prophecy you seek thoroughly."

Kagawus's intention was clear—if after consideration, it was beyond his abilities, then he would have no choice but to refuse.

Schiller took a deep breath,

"That prophecy is about the new era..."

"The new era's...

Divine beings!"