As soon as I turned my head, I saw Emperor God. He sat in the center, clad in a voluminous black robe embroidered with golden patterns. To his left, Sylvia Yan wore a sheer dress like crimson clouds, adorned with blazing flame motifs. She was barefoot as always, her gaze icy as she looked at me.
On the right, Phantom Sage lounged sideways in his chair, dressed in a loose pale blue robe, his eyes filled with suspicion.
"What’s the point of having Ethan Zhang come here?"
Sylvia Yan asked, and Emperor God sighed helplessly.
"You should already know what’s going on, Ethan Zhang."
I responded with a quiet "Mm."
"Did you really not consider it at all? All living things... You were once rulers of Hell, yet you show none of the resolve such rulers should possess. All you think about is how to resurrect your father. Is it really..."
"It's precisely because we considered it that I asked you to come, Ethan Zhang. Through you, I want to confirm something."
I looked at Emperor God in confusion. For some reason, his expression was less stern than before, much softer. At this moment, Sylvia Yan stood up, slowly floated behind me to the edge of the high platform, and gazed down at the city below.
"Honestly, living here isn’t so bad. There’s no need to wage war. Even though we lost everything, we created a new realm—neither human nor ghost, a world for souls after death. The destroyed holy spirits can continue in this place. It’s not so bad, really."
Phantom Sage snorted coldly and stood up.
"Then what was the point of everything I did? It was only under the force of your two wills that I began contacting the Greenshade Wraiths of the Eight Hells, monitoring the Underworld, gathering intelligence, expanding the army, and conducting all kinds of research. Has all of this become a joke now? I've never heard of anything so ridiculous. Xiaoyan, are you trying to run away? Run away from our fate."
"Enough. No need to say anything unnecessary. Ethan Zhang, let me ask you—if war really breaks out, you'll stand with the Underworld, won't you?"
I shook my head. Emperor God looked at me in confusion.
"I will only stand by my friends. I have no ties to the Underworld."
"Is that so!"
Emperor God gave a helpless smile.
"But in reality, your choice already puts you on the opposing side. Nobody wants war, not even us. Experiencing it once was enough—the endless slaughter, the relentless brutality. Not because we're afraid, but because war has always been a vortex that devours everything. If war truly breaks out, both realms will be left in ruins."
I stared blankly at Emperor God and asked.
"If you understand this, why go to war? Aren't you already prepared?"