Chapter 1 The Beginning

The leader of the Forge of Creation, the Hedao (Harmony of the Dao) expert Androktos, was born a million years ago, at the very moment when the first-generation Universe Will and the Creation Ring Dao Lord perished together, and the Great Dao collapsed and scattered.

In the instant that the two supreme Hedao experts fell, He was formed by the fusion of the universe's origin and the divine intent of creation. He was the first and only Hedao-level Mechagod born in this universe.

At the same moment, the first generation of 'Creation Truth', also known as the [Hedao Armament: Creation Ring], the artificial truth upon which all divine systems relied to create small universes, collapsed.

Originally surrounding the root of the universe, drawing on the great universe's essence to create the world, the magnificent and solemn spiral of runes collapsed rapidly like a loose sandcastle, following the first generation Universe Will's resolute attack that burned itself out. This caused the Great Dao of the entire Creation Realm to shake, and all the gods temporarily lost their ability to be 'immortal and indestructible'.

The current 'Creation Truth', the [Hedao Armament: Dao-Forging Hammer], is merely a semi-finished product pieced together from fragments of the Creation Ring of the past.

But even this semi-finished product is far more powerful than the Hedao Armaments of other divine systems, enough to prove that the Creation Ring at that time had indeed stepped into the Hongliu (Great Tide) realm with one foot, just half a step away from success.

So, where did the remaining fragments of the Creation Ring ultimately fall?

The answer is the Forge of Creation.

[Hedao Armament: Creation Furnace]

This墟界 (Xu Realm) wandering on the edge of the universe, is the final fate of the Creation Ring in its past glory.

The Forge of Creation, one of the Four Forbidden Zones, is the other side of the coin of the Origin Path, famous for its innate Mechagods, and the organization that inherited the legacy of the Creation Ring.

The method by which the Forge of Creation creates innate Mechagods is essentially to collect special information flows from the void of the surrounding universe and use them as the core to 'create' – in other words, if some powerful figure appears in the multiverse who can spread their information into the void, creating a race or a divine beast lineage out of thin air, the Forge of Creation will accept it and create a corresponding innate Mechagod.

The Zhuzhou are one of them.

This is also clear proof that the [Hedao Armament: Creation Ring] was once close to the Hongliu realm.

The leader of the Forge of Creation, the Sky-Supporting Titan Androktos, is a born Hedao, born in response to the fall of the Dao Lord and the Universe Will. He holds the power of creation and knows the essence of the universe.

If this powerful figure had ambition, then the Origin Path might not have been established by the then not-so-famous Dao-Creating Divine Duska. He could have directly started with the Forge of Creation, recruited all the Origin Path gods scattered throughout the land, and rebuilt the Creation Ring.

But He didn't.

Because He refused His innate 'obligation'.

Indeed.

As the fusion of the Dao Lord and fragments of the first-generation Universe Will, He originally had the responsibility to gather the broken Origin Path gods and rebuild the Creation Ring... or, conversely, pick up the fragments of the Universe Will and become the true 'Second Generation Universe Will'.

Just like a child should pick up their father's failed dreams and continue to do them until they achieve Hongliu.

But the question arises.

Why?

Did He ask anyone to let Him be born?

Did He ask anyone to let Him achieve Hedao?

Being created by the combined power of the two most powerful beings in this universe... does that mean He must take over the dreams of these two?!

In the instant that the Sky-Supporting Titan was born into the world in confusion, many people attached their own ideas to Him. They hoped that someone could lead them to rebuild the organization, achieve Hongliu, reach the Supreme, and open up a path.

They believed that Androktos should 'live up to' His power and origin and fulfill His 'responsibilities and obligations'.

So Androktos said no.

He gave up all His rights in the Origin Path and the other half of His authority as the offspring of the Universe Will.

This Hedao expert only cares about and protects His own kind.

Those innate Mechagods who are born in confusion in the Forge of Creation, without a creator and without meaning.

—The divine power of the Forge of Creation resonates with the multiverse's void, never stopping creation, even if this creation can never get the results it wants.

Then, let Him love them and give meaning to these confused peers.

This is the origin of the Forge of Creation.

A loving family.

In human form, Androktos is an imposing strong man with a full beard. His body is so large that even in human form He is four or five times larger than the Firefly next to Him, which means that His fingers are thicker than Firefly's waist.

Not to mention that this Sky-Supporting Titan is in the Hedao realm. His attainments on the 'Origin Path' are even stronger than those of the Dao-Creating Divine Duska, while the Firefly next to Him is just a mere Mechagod.

【...I'm sorry】

However, despite such a huge difference, the giant sighed and gently patted Firefly's head with His fingertip, causing the heat-dissipating呆毛 (dai mao, cowlick) on the white-haired dragon girl's head to sway slightly: 【I never told you about your background because I wanted you to get rid of all the entanglements of cause and effect and live as an ordinary Mechagod.】

【But now it seems that I was too naive, just like I wanted to escape my responsibilities, but in the end, it still caused the beings of this universe to be involved.】

The Sky-Supporting Titan's tone was low. Since the Second Generation Universe Will appeared, intending to lead many worlds to collide with the Creation Realm and set off the Second End Era Disaster, He has been in a dilemma.

As a Hedao formed by the fusion of the first-generation Universe Will's fragments and the Origin Path's fragments, He certainly had the possibility of achieving the Universe Will, and this possibility was much greater and simpler than the Second Generation Universe Will's birth after millions of years of gestation.

But He gave up – Androktos was unwilling to be a substitute for anyone, He just wanted to be Himself.

There was nothing wrong with this, but unfortunately, He was too compassionate by nature. He felt unbearable when the Origin Path created the One God as His puppet to explore the path of Hongliu, and He felt that it was all His fault that the Universe Will set off the End Era Disaster and achieved the Eternal Star God.

—If He had fulfilled His responsibilities in the first place, the Second Generation Universe Will would not have been born, and the Origin Path would not have used this method to peek into the Hongliu realm.

This great war that swept through the entire Creation Realm would not have happened at all.

Of course, there may have been a worse ending, such as using the backhand of the Imperial Balance Path to directly take effect on the Sky-Supporting Titan, causing the Universe Will to be resurrected on the spot.

But who knows?

If, if... if this possibility is the most hurtful. No one knows whether the future will be good or bad, so chaos is frightening and anticipated.

"Don't worry, Big Brother."

After thinking about it, Firefly comforted him in a very Zhuzhou way: "You're not some chosen one. It's inevitable to feel overwhelmed. Just get used to it."

Even, she shrugged slightly: "What's more, I don't care about my background at all – I had guessed that I might be related to the Universe Will, but so what?"

"I am the Dao-Bearing Dragon of the Forge of Creation, the Zhuzhou, and the Firefly. The priority of the identity of the Universe Will Fragment is very low."

【...That's not how you comfort people, Little Dao-Bearer】

The Titan was silent for a while, then laughed.

He looked up at the Forge of Creation, at the constantly shattering and reorganizing, seemingly piecing together and uniting at all times, condensing the endless information in the multiverse, and then creating something.

The Hedao expert said softly: 【Likenalda and the others gathered the dreams of all beings back then, and also took in you – your original body, the dream of resentment after the fall of the Universe Will. They hoped to use the long years and dreams to dissolve the resentment in it, and use this fragment of the Universe Will as a basis to create another universe, which can be regarded as satisfying the original wish of the Universe Will.】

【But why does the universe have to have a Universe Will? And why create a new will to satisfy the wishes of the previous Universe Will?】

【If it really must be, wouldn't it be better to let Them gestate it themselves? There have been too many creations that were not hoped for. I think that in any case, you need to be given the freedom to choose.】

Saying this, He lowered His head.

The Hedao expert Androktos solemnly said to His junior: 【Even now, Dao-Bearer, you can still choose.】

【Go and become the core of the dreams of all beings in the Myriad Manifestation Burial Ground – become the Universe Will of Their dream universe.】

【With my support, compete with that Second Generation Universe Will for the authority of the universe's origin, the Eternal Star God – I have the power to do this. Even if I use all the power of the Forge of Creation, I will let you win.】

【Finally, leave this universe and go to the Pioneer Space, leave this universe that will only give you countless terrible meetings, give up all the labels of the Universe Will, and become an independent life.】

Speaking in a deep voice, the Titan's tone was not gentle, but His divine intent was extremely gentle: 【These three, or other possibilities... as long as you want to choose, then choose.】

Firefly was silent for a while.

She closed her eyes.

From the very beginning, when she was being hunted down by many Mechagods of the Origin Path, she had thought that her background might not be as simple as she had imagined.

Sure enough, with the subsequent appearance of the All Heavens Zhuzhou Chat Group and the encounter with Shao Shuangyue and other visitors from the Pioneer Space, she was even more certain of this idea – her existence was very special to the Creation Realm.

Not just the Zhuzhou, not just the Dao-Bearer, but something more essential. As a born Mechagod, she was extraordinary.

Until the arrival of the Primordial Zhuzhou, everything changed suddenly.

Many divine systems revealed their original contradictions, started their respective plans, and launched wars with various reasons and truths that were very correct.

And all of this, after going around in circles, finally came back to her.

As an independent life, she really had no obligation to respond to those responsibilities that she didn't even know about, those dreams that came from her predecessors and that she didn't even know about.

—Even if it is a created object, it does not mean that the 'created' 'belongs to' the creation, just like a child does not belong to their parents, but is an independent life.

A 'created object' is an arrow, and the 'creator' is the archer. The creator created the bow and arrow to hit the target. They pulled the bow with all their strength to make the arrow fast and stable, so that it could accurately hit the target.

But the moment the arrow leaves the bow, it is no longer controlled by the archer. It will fly along its trajectory and be free after hitting the target.

If it does not hit the target, it is not the arrow's fault, but the responsibility of the bow holder.

They should not force the arrow to hit anything, because that is not the arrow's mission. It was originally just wood, iron, and feathers, that's all.

All the materials created originally existed there. The creator just carved them into shapes that had never appeared before according to their own will.

"I know, Big Brother..."

Whispering softly, Firefly slowly opened her eyes. The platinum dragon girl's tone was calm: "I really don't need to respond to anyone's wishes imposed on me – if I want to, I will agree, just like the Primordial Zhuzhou, because we 'wish' for help, and he 'agrees' to help, and after reaching a contract, it will begin to be implemented."

"What's more, I'm actually not that important. Even without me, this universe will still go to its own future – whether the One God wins, or the Eternal Star God wins, or any other party reaps the benefits, the future of this universe is bright, but with different colors."

"But."

Firefly raised her head and looked at the Sky-Supporting Titan's serious face. She nodded slightly and then looked around at the entire universe outside the Forge of Creation: "After all, I am a life of the Creation Realm, even though I have only been born for less than ten years."

Gazing at the stars, her tone was steady: "I am a member of this universe."

"I am a Zhuzhou—"

Facing the universe, spreading her arms, the Dao-Bearing Dragon showed a smile: "So, I hope it can become better."

"This is my dream."

Once these words were spoken, they were like a drop of water falling on the lake.

With Firefly's feet as the origin, heavy concentric ripples lit up, constantly spreading towards the surrounding universe and time.

Faintly, one could hear hearty laughter coming from these ripples, mixed with the thunder that rose during the Hedao.

"This is Firefly's own choice."

The voice of the Primordial Zhuzhou came from it, not because Firefly chose his path, but because Firefly chose 'her own' path: "Sky-Supporting Titan, you hope that Firefly can get out of this mire, but even if you created Firefly's current form, you cannot force it."

"Everything has returned to the very beginning – Androktos, are you willing to give me a 'Divine Intent of Creation' for a better future for the Creation Realm?"

【...Tianyan (Celestial Evolution), Innovation, whatever you call yourself, Primordial Zhuzhou】

Slowly standing up, sighing, not knowing whether it was dissatisfaction or finally solving a knot in His heart, the star giant who slowly returned to His original form and became increasingly huge, His voice became vast and magnificent: 【You are the holder of the new Great Dao, the correctness outside the universe.】

The Titan's form was so huge that even without being fully released, His height had exceeded 17 million kilometers. One of His arms could hold several stars, His eyes were a burning nebula, and His body was a constantly rotating, stable miniature star structure – His body itself was a small galaxy model.

【I don't believe your sweet words, I don't believe this guy who has never shown his true form until now.】

The Galaxy Giant raised His fingertip, and a pure, blazing white divine light lit up. It was the divine light of creation, representing the pure divine power of creation.

[Enlightenment Radiance], [Celestial Furnace], [Creation Hand], representing the three supreme inheritance powers of creation: 'Inspiration', 'Accumulation', and 'Action', were all condensed in this divine radiance and handed to Firefly, who raised her head.

Handed to the Primordial Zhuzhou behind Firefly.

【But I believe in the future chosen by all things themselves.】

"I never use sweet words."

To this, Su Zhou just smiled slightly: "I always say what I can do."

"I will fulfill my promises and complete what I agree to."

"As for the true form... Haha, although this is my true form, I know what you want to see."

So, in the next moment.

Along with streams of light and radiance, flying out from all over the Creation Realm, from the Myriad Manifestation Burial Ground, the Extremely High Tower, the Vortex of Contention, the Imperial Balance Path, and the Dark Abyss Path.

Finally, in front of the Forge of Creation, it condensed into a hazy light.

This light had no color and no temperature. It seemed to have existed since ancient times, and it would inevitably exist in every moment of the distant future.

However, a huge dragon claw stretched out from the darkness and held this light in its palm.

Spreading its wings, the Primordial Zhuzhou, Universe Battle Form 6.67, the version compatible with all Daos, showed its true appearance at this moment.

It was a ferocious and majestic dragon serpent, covered with countless solid steel armor, but with surprisingly smooth lines. Its wings covered the stars, and its long tail dragged the starry sky. Just flying seemed to cause a third of the Guanghui (Radiance) Great Dao of this world to fall, plunging into a future that no one could know.

In just a moment, carrying endless Hedao fluctuations, Su Zhou, who had finally collected all the Great Dao divine intents except for the Five Heavenly Divine Systems, continued his constant Hedao process, and then used this most natural cosmic phenomenon to directly break through all the defense measures arranged by the Five Heavenly Divine Systems around them.

Under the astonished gazes of the One God and the Eternal Star God, he seemed to cross space and time in one step and arrived in front of the faceless god.

"One God."

Not evil, nor good, the Hedao dragon serpent descended in front of the created being.

He spoke softly, with a gentle smile.

"Do you want to eat an apple?"

"Or..."

"Do you want a pair of eyes?"