130 Doubts...

Long time ago, before the world was even formed, there was a lone girl floating around… The girl was a God. Not the type of God like Xiao Qiangwei, but the one that represent the most a subject, like Poseidon, the god of the seas, or Hades, the god of hell.

But… What is really a God? Why was she born? The girl didn't know, and since she was alone, no one could answer her.

She knew many things, but she kept doubting them, because her quintessence made her to do it. She was born because she needed to ask "Why" in the place of those without awareness.

She picked up her writing brush and wrote on her scrolls…

What does it mean "To be"?

What is the "World"?

What was she then, since she asked those questions?

Her scroll was full of questions that she couldn't answer, from the most logical and important to the most trivial. However, there was no one to ask, no matter how many questions she had.

So… In the middle of her loneliness… She made 5 machines. 4 machines would perform observation, analysis, proof and response, while the last one would manage and coordinate them.

In a world where knowledge didn't exist yet, she decided to try and create knowledge. Her infinite doubts could now be answered by the machine that answered, that was what the girl wished for. However, the machine's very own knowledge caused them to ask in return:

What are we?

What are you?

What is to doubt?

…

The machines had knowledge, however, they missed something that the girl had… A heart.

And that is why, the first to have a "Heart", the girl, despaired. She didn't even know what a wish was, she was left without understanding even that.

And finally, the girl thought of a method to answer one of her endless doubts. She doubted her own existence, and in the end… She negated herself, piercing her own Quintessence.

At least she existed. Knowing that she can die, meant that she existed, and she held that lonely answer close to her heart… But on a certain day, even that answer was negated.

On a remote hill that would soon be called the "Eastern Federation", under a sky with a red moon that set the stage, in the dead of night, there was a golden fox child that looked like she would die at any time.

Even so, the god, asked the fox a question about a decision from the latter, which was "You can't go against the established tactic"...

Why?

Old Deus: Answer me. What's thy basis to conclude that thou canst not go against the established tactic?

The golden fox answered with her own conditions, her history up to that moment was her basis.

The Old Deus asked what was her proof that such an extrapolation fallacy was true. The golden fox's answer was that proof was unnecessary for something as obvious as the "Strong trampling on the Weak".

The girl asked the definitions of weak and strong, and proof that proof is unnecessary for obvious things.

It was an endless row of question and answer….

For some reason, even with a dying body, the golden fox laughed and daringly stood up, before interrupting her question.

Golden Fox: This has become so stupid. Hey you, what's your name?

Old Deus: Unknown.

Even though the golden fox recognized the Old Deus as "You", the latter was doubting her own existence. Then she talked to the golden fox about everything, her own "Quintessence", her endless questions, and how in the end she denied herself.

Golden Fox: Oh, so you're nameless then. Well, that doesn't matter. Then… It would be fine if I just proved proof, right?

In order to destroy the established tactic, we'd have to go against that One true God bastard… We'd have to change the world itself so it keeps going against the established tactic forever… I'll create that world with my own hands as your proof.

The girl, however, didn't care, she just wanted to sleep. After all, it was possible to disproof proofs infinitely.

Golden Fox: Are you trying to provoke me? Even if it's against your will, I'll be keeping you company.

Old Deus: Why?

The answer she got was… She'd unite all the races, and make an "Established tactic" in which no one is sacrificed. So that she could defeat the One True God and take his throne.

Golden Fox: So, c'mon, Aschente.

But the girl stood silent.

Golden Fox: Let me continue. How about we play a little game? After you win, my body will be your medium until death. But once you obtain the Throne of the One True God, you'll return it, without reservation.

The girl was surprised… The Throne of the One True God, the Golden Fox was talking about the Suniaster… If she has that, maybe her questions would be answered…

But…

Old Deus: …..Uwaaaaa thou! Thou, thou, medium! Didst thou deceive me!?

Golden Fox: Hahaha! The one who got deceived is at fault, that's the current world's common sense, right?

If the Old Deus won, she would use the Golden Fox's body as a medium until she died. However, it was her "Quintessence" what was bound inside the fox…

Golden Fox: With this, you will remain inside me until I give you the Throne of the One True God! Hahahahaha!

The girl's thoughts were in disarray while the fox kept laughing in a good mood. But the girl didn't realize that for the first time, she was expressing an emotion.

Golden Fox: ...Relax, a loss is a loss. I will fulfill my promise. You can keep asking questions. I will tackle as many as possible. Until you obtain the Suniaster, and stop negating yourself, just watch from inside me.

And thus, the Eastern Federation was born. But the Old Deus' powers weren't even needed. Every time that the golden fox wanted to give up, the Old Deus would ask why, and so she became the golden fox's advisor.

Time passed, and another scene came out, it was on the night when the Seiren's territory was conquested.

Miko: ...It's almost time. I'll finally let you out, thank you for your patience.

Old Deus: "Is it them… those Imanities?

She spoke inside the Miko's mind, who was playing with her race piece.

Miko: That's right. It's not like I'll cohabitate with you forever. In truth, since the designated representatives of the Werebeasts are both you and I, I can't bet the race piece… It's enough if I die by myself, I will entrust this to the next ones.

She could possibly really get the Suniaster, but what is her lifespan wasn't enough?

Miko: That's why, before that happens, let's overwrite that Pledge… let's play one last game.

However, the girl refused, the one who promised to find the truth was the Miko after all.

Miko: ...In that case, I'll end my life right now.

…

Old Deus: ...I won't let you die, by any means necessary…

So she started to secretly think about a plan to give the fox eternal life…

Old Deus: ...I shall accept… However, I won't accept thy death, medium.

…

And thus, the girl was finally released from the chains of the Pledges. However, after the pledge ended, and she grasped the Miko's life, she realized that she was in an unfavorable match, and she couldn't even get out of it.

And she understood… Since the very beginning, the fox had absolutely no intention to die nor to hand over her Quintessence to anyone else. She simply wanted to throw the girl away, betraying her.

The betrayal was: That if someone reached the top, then the girl's Quintessence would be erased instead. The rules that were made were to protect the Miko…

Miko: ...You were very patient. Even so, I believe in you.

Old Deus: Thou would say that even as though are plotting to betray me. Is believing just a joke to thou?

Miko: I'll have you think that… It's about time you stood up by yourself.

In other words, she meant "Believing in the Traitor… It's about time you also realize that doubting and believing are equal.

If she was able to make the Traitor reach the goal, her Quintessence wouldn't be erased. But either way, she'd probably just go back to being temporarily inactive. And so, she thought about her doubts:

Just where did she go wrong?

However, she understood… The Suniaster. The all-knowing vessel that can only be obtained by gathering all the Race Pieces and winning against the One True God.

If she could get that…

Old Deus: '...I should understand… Why she threw me away…'

She thought, but she didn't understand what it meant…

[Back]

Xiao Qiangwei regained consciousness and looked around, there were his friends Sora and Shiro, the Miko was standing next to him, and in front of them there was the Old Deus, hugging her knees.

He looked at his location, and saw that they were in a dark room, small, gloomy, cold, mechanical… Just like the siblings' room.

Old Deus: Ye boaster who called thyself Immortal and Divine… Just what is a god…?

She seemed to be imploring, begging, or perhaps blaming Xiao Qiangwei. She looked just like a small kid that got lost in dark forest… This was her true form as the Old Deus of doubt…

Xiao Qiangwei: What is a god… It has different meanings depending on the situation… It could mean being omnipotent, omnisapient, omnipresent… It could mean being the all-father of everything created… In my case, it is ascending in cultivation, like I did.

But this isn't the answer you are looking for, so the most appropriate person you should ask about the question is the Miko. Still… Why in the name of my all-mighty master do you need to make it so complicated?

The Miko lowered her eyes in self-depreciation and laughed.

Miko: …The ones making things complicated are hopeless boring people like me.

As if responding with her words, the dark room creaked, and in instinct, the squatting girl swayed once.

Miko: ...C'mon, I think I already said it, but the real thing starts now. The Quintessence that was tied to me by the Pledges, returned to that child. However…

Since the Quintessence turned back to the child, she was slowly decaying without end.

Miko: Even if we were the ones who made it complicated, you were the ones who released it… It looks like we lost to you.

Sora: *Sigh* I know that it is rich coming from me, but Miko, you have a really bad personality…

Miko: Gamers should have bad personalities, and what's more, I'm a fox… However… I made a mistake… But, I don't know what I should have done, even now… Even so, I want to save that girl.

Even though I held her hand, I want that girl to be able to choose to grasp someone's hand by her own will. If i don't know the way to do that… If I cannot do that… I'll still do it, even if I have to involve unrelated people.

If I can't even throw away such stubbornness, I won't become an adult, I'll be just some blockhead… Well, say what you will.

Xiao Qiangwei: Well, you told me to say what I want… You are an incredibly pain in the ass.

Miko: Oof.

Xiao Qiangwei: But we'll do what we can…

Sora: Don't underestimate us. It's but an easy task.

Shiro: ...For not throwing away… that temper stubbornness.. I send you… my compliments.

Then they approached the girl.