TOMWDET Chapter 187.1

God-Making Chapter (3.1)

The sun blazed high overhead. The solar wheel that had hung in the sky of this other world for countless billions of years continued, as always, to illuminate the earth with brilliant and bright sunlight on days when it wasn’t obscured by dark clouds.

Ergonikin.

One of the Beast Tribe cities, which could neither be defined by special characteristics, yet happened to neighbor Rota County, which possessed monster beast features.

For the Beast King, and even for Bartholomew, this was just one of the ordinary subordinate cities that existed in the world by following the rules.

Ordinary, common.

That had been the not-so-distant past.

At least in the view of the unicorn, Bartholomew Christian.

A blurred figure appeared, holding cultivation resources in his hands, his expression full of joy, not forgetting to say: “Bartholomew, I’ve obtained more cultivation resources.”

“Other friends working together told me that new rules have been issued recently. But compared to the somewhat extreme resource distribution from before, now they’ve added a new rule: the more you do, the more you get.”

These words about rules were spoken casually, like random chatter, without any deep discussion. The person continued: “Now, you should use these extra cultivation resources.”

“Speaking of which, has your strength improved significantly recently? If you can’t advance to the next tier planned by the King before the next strength assessment day arrives, you’ll only be driven out of Tasahe City.”

The scene shifted, and inexplicable mist concealed that figure, while the setting changed to the streets.

A person carrying a backpack pulled Bartholomew aside. In that backpack were various plants whose elemental concentration was several times higher than the natural elemental reserves in the air.

After pulling Bartholomew aside, that person said with a gossipy expression: “Bartholomew, that Ido who wants to become family with you has been working much more desperately these past few days than before.”

“It’s understandable for the sake of resources, but I heard that the so-called ‘do more, get more’ saying is actually a misunderstanding. The King’s original intention was to test how many people were choosing to slack off at work…”

“Ido gave you a long adaptation period to take care of you, who had just been sent to Tasahe City and hadn’t completely adapted to monster beast society rules yet. He paid much more than you imagine…”

The gossiper left enough time for Bartholomew to contemplate, enjoying the interesting changes in the unicorn’s expression during this period, before saying: “But my suggestion is that you’d better stop him from continuing to work hard, and you should also hurry up and get to work.”

“You, who simply can’t accept reality, will sooner or later die in some remote corner of Tasahe City for violating the rules.”

“It’s really worrying for monster beasts, especially since the element you possess is the light element that opposes the King…”

The scene jumped again, and this time the view had shifted from day to night.

During the free time outside the rules, even though most monster beasts would choose to rest, there were still some monster beasts—whether kind-hearted or just wanting to watch the excitement—who had gathered at Bartholomew and Ido’s home.

“What a pity, I never thought that Ido would give his own resources to Bartholomew.”

“Me neither. This kind of thing is unimaginable, right? The King lets everyone get the same resources precisely to accurately measure everyone’s individual talent. Ido’s opportunistic behavior… what’s happening now can only be said to be his own doing.”

“Don’t say that… who didn’t come from Bartholomew’s state? It’s just that when we were in that situation, we couldn’t meet a monster beast like Ido.”

“So Ido could only be driven out of Tasahe City with insufficient strength after his assessment day arrived.” Someone spoke with a disdainful tone.

“He’ll die, won’t he?”

“Whether he will or not doesn’t matter much.”

Several monster beasts exchanged glances, and when they spoke their next words, there was no shame on their faces.

“After all, we came here just to observe Ido’s house. After he leaves, such a large space can’t possibly be lived in by just Bartholomew alone—that would be too wasteful, wouldn’t it?”

“Whether it’s the rules or loyalty to the King, I don’t think I’d want to see such resource waste.”

“Why do you think Ido chose to give his cultivation resources to Bartholomew?”

The questioning monster beast was sincerely curious.

The answering monster beast, however, couldn’t empathize with the other already-expelled monster beast: “How would I know? I’m not Ido. But honestly, I’d really like to become Bartholomew, but unfortunately, I would never ignore loyalty to the King because of personal emotions.”

“Ido…”

What happened afterward?

Bartholomew, who had been coldly observing all this, saw another version of himself rush directly out of Tasahe City.

The observers behind him said with strange expressions: “Bartholomew isn’t going to look for Ido, is he? Isn’t it natural for monster beasts with insufficient strength to be driven out of their residential cities after their power is confirmed on assessment day?”

“Everyone is following these rules, and we still have to work tomorrow. If Bartholomew can’t return before tomorrow’s daylight and touches the rules, it would be equivalent to betraying the King…”

As if controlled by some unknown great hand, a mad scene appeared where all monster beasts said: “Never forgive anyone who defies the rules! Under the rules, all beings are equal!”

Bartholomew, who had already rushed out of the city, obviously didn’t hear these words.

The young-looking unicorn ran around frantically outside the city like a headless fly.

During that period, the earliest expulsion rules had already been established. However, compared to the later perfection of the rules, that was just the beginning of when rules first appeared.

What would happen to isolated Beast Tribe members?

Unlike later times, the earliest isolated Beast Tribe members would become important channels for the other two tribes to understand Beast Tribe intelligence.

And one of the rules was: no Beast Tribe intelligence regulations could be leaked to the Winged Tribe or Water Tribe…

This point destined that Ido would say nothing.

Interrogation, torture.

The monster beasts who ultimately carried out interrogation and torture would mostly be disappointed.

In the end, the foreign monster beast who still needed to eat would only end up being slain on the spot.

And some who weren’t picky about food would even force transformed monster beasts to return to their original forms…

The young-looking unicorn defeated a series of Water Tribe members, but what was ultimately left for him was only Ido, who had been dead for more than half a day.

Bartholomew later discovered that those aquatic monster beasts hadn’t planned to eat Ido. They just wanted to see if Ido was truly isolated, and if possible, whether they could use his corpse to lure out other monster beasts who might reveal intelligence…

Ido hadn’t revealed any intelligence, but Bartholomew wished he had.

Finally, the unicorn buried Ido on a hill, and before the sun completely rose, he could no longer see with Ido the sunrise that Ido should have embraced.

He could only return to Tasahe City at dawn under the mandatory requirements of the rules.

Rule one: When encountering any possibility of rule violation, prioritize following all issued rules as one of the guiding principles.

Most monster beasts could naturally follow those rules. Bartholomew wasn’t sure if he and Ido were too special, making them unable to catch up with the new era before being forgotten in the past.

He also wasn’t sure what meaning there was in following these rules.

With the same resources, those with talent could become stronger—

But when they became stronger, they would be compared with monster beasts of another tier.

Endless.

It seemed that every monster beast ultimately faced the fate of being driven away.

But no matter how extraordinarily talented a monster beast was, there were always times when they couldn’t compare to other monster beasts.

Yet the rules were still being enforced.

They even gradually became not mandatory, but something every monster beast spontaneously began to maintain.

That was the only path upward.

When the monster beasts above died, they would naturally leave positions for the monster beasts below…

Since no monster beast thought it was wrong, what all monster beasts were experiencing now was correct.

The gray areas of the world were extremely vast, but the Beast Tribe’s thinking domain was narrow and limited.

But undeniably, these rules that Bartholomew couldn’t specifically describe—achieved by what the transformed monster beasts had abandoned—had truly caused monster beasts who still retained their “hearts” to lose too much.

He didn’t know when it started, but familiar monster beasts, like Ido in his memories, were exiled one by one and died one by one in wars, until their original positions were filled by new monster beasts.

Time in the Beast Tribe’s world slowed to the point where, except for different monster beasts, everything else was completely identical.

Without thought, like tree branches that would only sway when blown by wind.

Until later, Bartholomew saw the Beast King.

That is, Clemens—

The [Tiger]’s original form at that time didn’t yet have a height of hundreds of meters. He lived like a giant dragon in buildings with extremely high domes.

Bartholomew was terrified, but deep in his heart, instead of the usual deathly silence, he developed unnecessary curiosity.

Why was the King’s power so strong?

Strong like a monster.

But only such a powerful being could establish tiers that divided the strength of other monster beasts.

Bartholomew knelt on one knee, showing submission.

More and more battlefields saw the unicorn’s figure.

Occasionally, someone like that former gossiper would tell Bartholomew: “The King doesn’t really like monster beasts with light elements.”

This wasn’t understood as jealousy; Bartholomew just asked for the reason.

Clemens’s answer was: “No monster beast would expect that kind of element, which has the ability to kill him, to be mastered by another individual.”

In confusion, Bartholomew seemed to feel winter’s arrival. But even in the coldest winter, temperature made no difference to monster beasts.

Clemens later even asked Bartholomew: “Knowing this answer, what do you plan to do?”

The unicorn’s choice seemed to have only one option left.

But this couldn’t be considered a choice at all.

It was merely the only path forward based on factual oppression.

Bartholomew became a thorough physical strength user. From then on, no monster beast ever saw him use light element ranged attacks as his power output method.

—Unable to resist, that was clear information from the first glance.

Thereafter, facts repeatedly told Bartholomew that no monster beast could resist Clemens.

That wasn’t human, and that wasn’t a monster beast either.

That was just a monster.

A monster whose mere existence was equivalent to darkness.

Clemens told the unicorn: “I am no longer convenient to travel. From now on, my instructions will be carried out by you.”

Clemens told the unicorn: “Monster beast existence has limits, but I do not.”

The Beast King told his subordinate: “Darkness will one day shroud the earth.”

Clemens had said too many things to Bartholomew.

He could even make it so that for nearly a hundred years, the Beast Tribe only knew Bartholomew but didn’t know Clemens.

The King that the Beast Tribe called seemed to have become just a label and code name.

But there was no betrayal, and no seizure of power.

Anyone who saw the [Tiger]’s existence would not develop thoughts of resistance.

Bartholomew would never be an exception to that.

He would not resist Clemens, nor would he voice his views on the rules, much less reveal that even in dreams, Ido’s face would only become slightly blurred under his subjective influence.

That figure remained clear even hundreds of years later today.

And now.

Humans who had truly seen that being were attempting to launch what was destined to be a failed charge toward the monster beast city.

“We’ll be able to reach Ergonikin in about three more hours. The Water Tribe monster beasts’ mobility is much faster than expected, isn’t it?” Leia looked at Su Li with an expression that the human youth simply couldn’t understand.

“Since we’ve already prepared for war against Clemens, rather than waiting until one day he leads troops to attack the sea, it’s better to have all Water Tribe combat power mobilize at this time.”

Monster beasts that could take human form all moved in human appearance.

Those unable to change directly wrapped themselves in water elements, rolling continuously across land like tumbleweeds…

This eye-searing scene had made Su Li realize countless times that he couldn’t communicate naturally with the merman, so he could only turn his head aside, pretending to listen seriously while his brain and gaze were obviously vacant.

“So this is your reason for choosing not to treat me as a prisoner who needs to be guarded in the rear, but as someone who needs to accompany the army?” Bartholomew looked at the merman with eyes full of murderous intent.

He then turned his death glare toward Su Li. “Don’t tell me that for you, a human who considers multiple aspects, this battle really needs to bring me.”

“This… I think it’s completely unnecessary.” Su Li boldly voiced his inner thoughts.

Egbert also wanted to kill the merman, his sharp gaze flying over repeatedly. If his power weren’t insufficient to defeat the merman, he would have already dragged the merman to some corner for a fight.

“Not to mention whether attacking a city requires a large number of people, just bringing a unicorn who will definitely betray us once he recovers his power… no matter how you put it, this is unreasonable, right?”

Roy nodded vigorously. “I think so too. Or do you have some reason that can convince everyone?”

Lan Zhe tossed a potion bottle up and down in his hands. Looking at the merman whose expression hadn’t changed at all, he once again clearly felt that anyone trying to compete for Su Li’s attention would explode with combat power that others couldn’t resist during the attempt phase.

The Dark Holy Son said, “Obviously, a reason that could completely shield public anger doesn’t exist. He’s doing this just because it might make Su Li look at him with new eyes, right?”

“This sounds like my only value here is to make Su Li experience unexpected emotions.” Bartholomew felt very bad now.

In every aspect.

“I thought you might ask for my opinion.” Elvi sneered coldly, the opened eye full of killing intent. “Your existence is to make Su Li feel surprised, so I’m here just to be the most suitable one to finish off that merman when he doesn’t want to live anymore, right?”

Leia shook his head. “No, even if someday I really don’t want to live, I would hope that my death would be personally given by Su Li.”

Before Egbert could lose control and attack, the merman proactively changed the topic.

“Ultimately, choosing to bring you along is only based on the thought that Clemens will have limitations.”

“In a confrontation between two armies, as we who hold prisoners, facing that being who has been repeatedly evaluated by you as a monster, our only advantage is this point.”

The merman had always been skilled at conspiracies. He had always lived in shadows, playing with things he was accustomed to, impossible to abandon.

“And if what you want to know is why I brought you over before finishing the attack on Ergonikin… then I can only tell you that compared to spending great power to occupy an enemy city, the fact of having you two prisoners, who are themselves equivalent to the strong among monster beasts, is enough to tell those useless monster beasts that we possess power they simply cannot resist.”

The merman initially didn’t want to explain. He felt the human youth would understand even if he didn’t say it.

As for others who didn’t understand…?

Who would care about idiots’ thoughts?

“Achieving victory without wasting a single soldier is always better than occupying at great cost.”

“Additionally, not caring about those idiots’ deaths is one thing…” Leia glanced at the strangely shaped aquatic monster beasts behind him.

Whether they were transformed monster beasts in human form maintaining some aquatic monster beast characteristics, or pure various aquatic monster beasts… perhaps it was really because the deep sea was too dark, so they all grew quite carelessly.

“But if we can save strength and let them exert more power when facing Clemens on the battlefield, wouldn’t that let Su Li expend less energy?”

This statement made both the unicorn and giant dragon want to strangle the merman.

The human had a sudden realization.

Egbert’s summary was: “So you mean that rather than letting Lord Su Li do what he wants to do, it’s better for us to act in advance, which can also save Lord energy?”

“Right but not entirely right.” Based on this point, the merman was still interested in discussing with the human.

The subsequent time passed in various absurd conversations related to Su Li.

Egbert was also able to confirm that Leia had some madness in him.

It was just that the merman’s previous madness consisted of various incomprehensible psychotic behaviors, while now it was…

“Taking Su Li’s thoughts as thoughts, taking Su Li’s principles as principles. Rather than being controlled by thoughts from unknown beings, I’d rather be proactive. At least Su Li saved me.”

Su Li had of course explained that when he was in the sea, he just didn’t kill Leia. Not killing him didn’t equal saving him.

But the merman acted as if he hadn’t heard, still stubbornly carving the life-saving grace into his heart.

Worse still, Egbert also had some traits evolving in this direction.

Ignoring these “ordinary” things.