Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'

[Connection to the "Starry Abyss" server has been terminated]

After a ripple floated before him, Gio Zieou opened his eyes, his consciousness returning from the Starry Abyss, reattaching to his body.

If it were under the filter of the real world, his set of actions would be: the invasive link port on Kiddo fell off, then he stood up straight from the game pod.

Leaving the real-world filter wasn't necessarily a bad thing, at least he grasped the truth of this world and restored his original memories.

But for Gio Zieou now, being exposed in the real world instead presents him with a serious problem.

——The task given by Lai Anding's Immortal Spirit, he did not complete it.

The mission to find the Starry Abyss Seed was a complete failure, without even a shadow being seen.

Not only that, he also lost the synthetic body from the original test, effectively wasting an account.

All things considered, is this Leoz's problem?

Gio Zieou clenched his fist.

Honestly, he doesn't believe Leoz would betray him.

——Even if Leoz would betray him, it's absolutely impossible for him to betray the Starry Abyss.

'Leoz is the most loyal soldier to the Starry Abyss, bar none. If Leoz betrays the Starry Abyss and loses an executer comparable to the Chief God, the blow to the Starry Abyss would be unacceptable...'

Gio Zieou kneeled on one knee in the endless wasteland, countless resurrected deities' companions continued to walk through the white desert, holding nonexistent phones, pretending to make calls or swipe through short videos, as nonexistent radio waves filled the cold air.

Beneath the false illusion lies the endless white wasteland.

Gio Zieou knows this.

Before long, he will become just like these companions, enjoying bliss carefree in a peace glossed over by filters, then controlling the conscripted bodies convinced by the Starry Abyss and Lai Anding to descend into the Starry Abyss, manipulating them to complete tasks for the Starry Abyss.

In reality, the Starry Abyss itself is using pathways to control the Ascenders, yet each layer of the Starry Abyss coincidentally birthed Narrative Civilizations, the mortals' fervor for grand narratives offsets their reverence and worship of the Starry Abyss.

There's no helping it, after all, most self-proclaimed lovers of the environment merely pay lip service, and when it comes time to release nuclear waste, they fall silent.

Mortals might roughly understand the cosmic space beloved by the Starry Abyss, yet it's hard to teach them to submit to the Will of the Starry Abyss. Their worldview is cultivated amidst the flames of human relationships in the mortal realm, unable to comprehend or rather disinterested in the metaphysical concepts of the Starry Abyss's will.

Thus, Gio Zieou quickly realized why the Starry Abyss needed players to conscript bodies.

Only these truly molded by the Starry Abyss, battle-tested divine warriors, are absolutely loyal to the Will of the Starry Abyss.

However, Gio Zieou also understands that persuading these divine warriors, who have already died once for the Starry Abyss, to continue fighting is not feasible without some means.

Even metal, after repeated bending, will fatigue and ultimately break down. The divine warriors have already battled Destroyers, resurrected from death, and their spirits and divinities are no longer robust.

Many famous warriors of old have become indistinguishable from commoners in this lifetime.

Isn't Oshen a prime example?

Clearly a warrior born of the Sovereign God Clan, yet in this life, Oshen has completely forgotten the art of combat once wielded for Leoz and Morphederia, instead choosing the Path of Destruction.

It's apparent that descending is protecting the divine warriors, but that doesn't change the facts.

Gio Zieou isn't opposed to serving the Starry Abyss again, his real headache lies in the fact that even he isn't what he used to be.

"The Immortal Spirit asked me to look for the 'seed', in the end, I found nothing."

Gio Zieou scratched his head:

"Tsk... this is troublesome."

Mother of Lai Anding appears gentle and kind, but when it comes to important matters, she might be no less ruthless than Leoz.

Gio Zieou could almost foresee his own consequences.

"The time has arrived, Your Excellency Gio Zieou."

Gio Zieou raised his head, noticing two figures had appeared on the wasteland, their statures tall, with muscles exhibiting hollow structures, their porcelain skin tightly enclosed by pink and blue armor.

"...As expected."

Gio Zieou's heart sank.

Just as he was getting his bearings, Lai Anding's emissaries had arrived.

What is meant to come will surely come.

He held his forehead, his mind racing as he prepared his wording.

"You did not complete the mission, the seeds of the Starry Abyss in the Layer Abyss have not been activated, which means——'Li Zi' has not awakened."

A sturdy Immortal Spirit in pink armor approached him, raising a hand, upon which a decayed wooden nail manifested:

"As per the regulations, you must undergo a reconnection with the cognition filter, apologies, Gio Zieou, it's time to say goodbye to this rare moment of wakefulness."

Another female Immortal Spirit crossed her arms, her blue veil fluttering in the wind, she said lightly:

"No need to feel angry at your incompetence, Lai Anding's Excellency predicted that the reborn deities' powers would significantly diminish, both in thought and strength——is there anything else you wish to say?"

Their tone seemed lighthearted, yet this attitude unmistakably resembled pronouncing a criminal sentence.

Gio Zieou had no objections.

"I have nothing to say regarding this failure, failure is failure, not finding the Starry Abyss Seed is my issue, only the weak make excuses for failure."

"Refreshing, indeed worthy of being the Gio Zieou Excellency who once triumphed over [Society], and embarked on a cosmic raiding expedition."

The two Immortal Spirits offered a compliment, then approached, restraining his body with divine power.

"However, before sealing my divinity—no, before implanting the cognition filter, I wish to say a few words to Mother of Lai Anding."

Gio Zieou smiled and said:

"Compared to the pathway's Chief Gods, Lai Anding is our true Matriarch Goddess."

"Lai Anding's Excellency is currently in communication with the Will of the Starry Abyss, recently there have been some issues with the Six-Layered Starry Abyss, we'll address it later."

"It's the silent disconnect, isn't it."

Gio Zieou said lightly:

"A large number of [Society] has begun to revolt, ending the 5,000 years of stable development since breaching Haines, now frequently attacking the Narrative Civilizations, especially the Underwater Abyss Port and enclaves leading to the lower layers of the Starry Abyss."

The two Immortal Spirits stared coldly at him, although they said nothing, their hands paused.

"How do you know about this matter?"

"Heh, though I failed to complete the mission— well, I didn't come away empty-handed either."

Gio Zieou chuckled:

"I learned some information, something that pertains to the secrets of the Starry Abyss, please take me to meet with Lai Anding's Immortal Spirit, trust me—this information will influence the grand scheme of the Starry Abyss."

The two Immortal Spirits exchanged a glance, their divine power connecting, exchanging each other's thoughts and then turning to Gio Zieou:

"Lai Anding's Excellency is currently seeing talent, wait a little while longer before proceeding."

"A new talent? Who?"

"Your old rival—Oshen."

The Immortal Spirit said lightly:

"Or rather, the champion who formally defeated you in the individual matches of the first season of 'Starry Abyss'—'Long Yuqiong'"