Chapter 613: The Black Star in the Starry Sky
Monarch of Decay?
An expected answer.
Hastur merely nodded lightly, not particularly curious. What he anticipated were the Outer Gods of the past, ones he had never heard of before. Through them, he could gain a deeper understanding of the starry sky.
Otherwise, his knowledge of the stars would remain confined to books, while the real starry sky must be far more brilliant than what was written.
"The Black Devourer," the Primordial Hunger proposed a new title, piquing Hastur's curiosity.
"It's him," the Star Overlord voiced with interest. "I thought you had already devoured him. I didn't expect him to still be alive."
The Lamp God added ominously, "He is known as the Black Sun. Aren't you afraid that one day he might turn around and devour you?"
The Primordial Hunger glanced at them, cheerfully responding, "You seem very curious about my relationship with him."
The Star Overlord and the Lamp God remained silent, waiting for the Primordial Hunger to continue.
"Then keep that curiosity."
The Star Overlord and the Lamp God exchanged glances, both feeling an urge to beat up the Primordial Hunger.
When it was the Star Overlord's turn, he said meaningfully, "The Radiant Hunter has a bad temper and a poor reputation. As one of the most praised Outer Gods of the past, he once tried to hunt the Fallen Mother Goddess."
"Yes, he and the Fallen Mother Goddess are mortal enemies."
The Lamp God acknowledged, "Although he didn't succeed, he severely wounded the Fallen Mother Goddess. I thought he had perished in that hunt, but it seems you saved him."
"I just happened to pass by, and I needed a suitable partner."
"It seems he was gravely injured at that time."
"Not everyone has the ability and courage to hunt the Fallen Mother Goddess."
The Lamp God nodded, ending the brief exchange. When it was his turn, he remained silent for a long time.
The Star Overlord teased, "You probably don't have a trustworthy ally in the starry sky, do you? As for friends and partners, they should be even farther away from you."
"Weaklings need to band together; the strong never need help," the Lamp God said proudly.
"Indeed, you are quite right," the Star Overlord smiled. "That's why no Outer God of the past ever tried to rescue you from the Wish Lamp."
The Lamp God, with nothing to say, just snorted, indicating he didn't want to argue.
After a while, the Lamp God reluctantly said, "There is no Outer God in the starry sky worth recommending."
Hearing this, the Star Overlord and the Primordial Hunger couldn't hide their smiles, their teasing gazes like sharp blades piercing the Lamp God.
Even Hastur's lips curled slightly.
The Lamp God's words were clearly just for show, fooling no one but himself.
He either had no trustworthy allies and partners, or he couldn't communicate with the other half of the starry sky. Thus, the Lamp God, who hadn't returned to the starry sky for a long time, didn't dare to randomly recommend an Outer God of the past to the Hall of Stars for the Star Council.
If the other party turned hostile, he would be the biggest joke.
"Ha, the strong are always lonely," the Lamp God said, closing his eyes with a disdainful look.
"Being imprisoned in the Wish Lamp must also be quite lonely."
"Indeed, your reputation in the starry sky is well-deserved."
The Star Overlord and the Primordial Hunger wouldn't miss this chance to mock the Lamp God.
"Say what you want; not recommending anyone is my choice," the Lamp God hummed a random tune, ignoring their jests with an air of indifference.
Hastur watched the scene for a while, then turned his gaze to the Mother Tree of Desire, who indicated the location of Monarch of Decay in the starry sky.
Chains of stars extended from behind Hastur, reaching the resting place of Monarch of Decay in the starry sky.
It was an extremely desolate part of the starry sky, with even the surrounding stars shrouded in an aura of decay and demise, looking old and withered, like a sunset at dusk.
At the place where the aura of decay was most intense, a gray crown appeared, unadorned with any gems or intricate designs, looking plain and unremarkable.
When the chains of stars approached, a soft tentacle extended from the gray crown, gently tapping the chains, and a shadow followed the chains to the Hall of Stars.
It was evident that the Mother Tree of Desire had already informed Monarch of Decay.
Entering the Hall of Stars, Monarch of Decay glanced around, his gaze finally settling on Hastur, who was seated at the head, and spoke with curiosity, "The stars?"
"Choose a seat."
Hastur gestured for Monarch of Decay to find an empty seat, and he naturally sat beside the Mother Tree of Desire.
"Well, I didn't expect you to be in cahoots with the Mother Tree of Desire. No wonder she has the confidence to compete with the Fallen Mother Goddess for power."
The Lamp God, who had been acting aloof, started to speak again upon seeing a new member.
Hastur glanced at him lightly, and the Lamp God wisely fell silent.
The Primordial Hunger mimicked the action, pointing out the resting place of the Black Devourer in the starry sky.
This part of the starry sky was even more silent and lifeless than where Monarch of Decay resided.
In a brilliant starry sky, a black star blended naturally into the dark background of the universe. Without prior knowledge that this black star was the resting place of the Black Devourer, Hastur could easily overlook its existence.
Wait, a black star?
Black Star?
Was it just a coincidence?
Or did it have a deeper meaning?
Hastur glanced at the Primordial Hunger, now understanding why he liked to frequent the Church of the Yellow King.
The hymns of the Church of the Yellow King explicitly mentioned the existence of a Black Star.
He must be very curious about the connection between this Black Star and the King in Yellow.
This recommendation of a new member fit his needs perfectly, so he brought up this Black Star to confirm something.
With many thoughts in his mind, Hastur's chains of stars continued to extend towards the Black Star.
As he approached, Hastur saw the true form of the Black Devourer.
In the center of the Black Star, it seemed hollowed out, with a giant black or semi-transparent creature coiled inside.
Its overall form resembled a human embryo but had enormous eyes and six arms, with eight tentacles growing where its legs should be.
The entire Black Star resembled a human womb, nurturing the Black Devourer.
This must be the origin of the name "Black Sun."
As the chains of stars drew closer, the Black Star trembled slightly, and the Black Devourer extended two arms from inside the star, grasping the chains and playing with them like a human child with a toy.
Hastur noticed that its fingers were like human fingers, with five digits, just scaled up.
The chains of stars retracted, bringing with them a child dressed in black to the Hall of Stars.
The Black Devourer, in the form of a child in black, except for its tentacle feet, looked very much like a human child.
It glanced around, frowning slightly, and after a moment of thought, transformed its tentacle feet into two short legs, reduced its six arms to two, and its facial features gradually took shape.
Finally, the Black Devourer completely transformed into a normal-looking human child, appearing somewhat cute.
"The stars," it said in a clear, childlike voice, though it was unclear if it was intentionally mimicking human children or if that was its natural voice.
"Choose a seat," the stars gently nodded in acknowledgment.
The Black Devourer looked around, smiling sweetly at the Lamp God's seat, "I want to sit closer to the stars."
The Lamp God straightened his posture, snorting, "As a newcomer, you don't have the right to choose your seat."
The Black Devourer jumped onto the long table, and seeing that Hastur did not stop him, walked towards the Lamp God's seat, "I really like the aura of the stars."
"I want to be closer to the stars."
"So, can you give me your seat?"
The Lamp God was stunned for a moment. Was this a challenge for his seat?
He looked up and down at the childlike Black Devourer, trying to see what confidence it had to make such a request.
Finally, he sneered disdainfully, "Little brat, go play somewhere else. I don't like children, especially those who look like human brats."
"Are you the offspring of Chaos?"
"Little thing, do you believe I can squash you with one slap?"
"Do you believe I can find your other half and devour it?"
The Lamp God wanted to say, "Go ahead and try."
But the Black Devourer, like the Primordial Hunger, loved to eat. It wouldn't be polite and would definitely leave its resting place to hunt down the Lamp God's other half across the starry sky.
The Lamp God sneered coldly, ignoring the Black Devourer's provocation and looking at the stars seated at the head.