In a way, fate saved his life.
He lived an ordinary life for the first twenty-three years, no different from most people on Earth. However, thanks to the large sum of money left by his parents after their death, he easily possessed the capital to live a life without having to work, unlike others.
At the age of twenty-three, he attended an underground auction and acquired a mysterious bronze statue.
The statue was extremely bizarre, as it depicted a monster with a snake's head and a human body.
According to the auctioneer, it was unearthed from an ancient tomb of unknown age.
In mythology from any region, the image of a human and a snake is usually depicted as having a human body and a snake tail. However, this statue breaks with the conventional image, instead placing a snake head resembling a cobra on a human body.
He immediately became interested and searched for clues about the statue in various ancient books, but to no avail.
It wasn't until he met a folklorist that he realized the statue came from a primitive tribe deep in the rainforest known for its rituals.
This tribe seems to have survived to this day, with fragmentary mentions of them found in the diaries of various explorers.
At the request of the folklorist, he not only provided financial support for his research, but also decided to personally accompany him to visit the mysterious tribe.
He has always preferred a stable life, and this is the first time he has felt the desire to explore the unknown.
However, this was the only adventure of his life, and it also became the last.
Armed with weapons purchased from abroad and accompanied by more than a dozen bodyguards, they ventured into the rainforest. Using an old map obtained from who-knows-where by the folklorist, they successfully located the tribe.
Coincidentally, they were performing a sacrificial ceremony.
He saw the natives chanting songs with strange rhythms, and saw thick fog gradually spreading over the altar. Several spider-like threads emerged from the fog and pulled the dancing and chanting natives into the altar. After a while, the figures of these people disappeared from the fog, but he could vaguely see countless red eyes.
He stood there, stunned.
The folklorist frantically turned on his camera, wanting to record this bizarre scene. But when he opened the camera and met those eyes, he walked toward the altar as if he had lost his soul, and no matter how the bodyguards tried to stop him, they couldn't.
It disappeared into the thick fog in a short while.
Finally, the thick fog spread from the altar outwards until it covered all the living people present.
Phil Gray slapped his forehead, trying to recall what he had seen in the thick fog, but he couldn't remember anything.
His later memory was that as soon as he opened his eyes, he found himself standing before the god of fate.
The otherworldly god said he was dead and asked if he would be willing to do something in exchange for a new life.
He agreed.
He wanted to live, and he deeply regretted his risky actions, but the peaceful life he had enjoyed had already vanished the moment he decided to photograph that mysterious bronze statue.
The god of another world used his remaining power to reverse his fate and that of Phil Gray in this world, and from then on he took on the fate of the original owner.
"So that's how it is. I brought this on myself!"
Phil Gray felt quite helpless about his past self. Why did he have to go to the rainforest instead of enjoying the life of a rich kid?
That's just a waste of time and energy!
"Then why did you seal my memories? If I had known all this from the beginning, I wouldn't have... cough cough, I wouldn't have blamed you. Also, you swapped my fate with the original owner's, but I'm already dead. What about the original owner...?"
“Once you remember that statue and know its appearance, you may be perceived by it. Back then, you were just a mortal, not a person favored by the gods, so you naturally could not withstand its perception. Therefore, I sealed your memories. As for the original Phil Gray, he died for this world, and he died a worthy death.”
The voice of the god of fate carried the unique indifference of a deity, causing Phil Gray, who had just heard that the original owner of the body was dead, to feel a pang of sadness.
Did the original owner die in his place?
"Why? Couldn't the original Phil Gray have done these things for you? Why do I have to do them?"
He still doesn't understand the necessity of choosing himself.
“You are different. You are destined to bear these things. This is your fate, a fate that I cannot control.”
Ansel sighed softly.
The sigh from the gods was like a feather brushing against his heart, shaking Phil Gray for a moment. He was even more confused. What kind of fate could even be beyond the control of this god of destiny?
"My strength won't last much longer. Is there anything else you want to ask?"
There are so many questions I want to ask!
Phil Gray was completely bewildered. He asked in one breath, "What do you mean by fate? Who is the god that statue represents? Are you bound here by Him? How can I save you? And why did the God of Death and the Prophet of the Day choose me as their chosen one?"
Ansel was silent for a moment, then closed his amber-gold eyes, his expression somewhat forlorn: "They do not know where they came from. We call them the Gods of the Abyss. You don't need to know too much about them right now. You just need to know that they are reviving. The world's barriers can no longer withstand their invasion. Some of the gods in Vil have also submitted to them. Our goal is to completely expel them and protect the world of Vil."
However, none of the current gods in Ver can achieve this, because our authority is too dispersed, and the gods do not fully trust each other. Internal strife is also rampant, with gods frequently falling. For example, Night was slain by his subordinate god. Many gods have learned from this and are no longer easily granting subordinate positions, resulting in a continuous decline in the number of gods and a weakening of the divine kingdom. We need a god who masters all the laws of power, with all authority concentrated in His/Her. This is Ver's only hope against the gods of the Abyss.
"So you chose me?" Phil Gray asked in surprise.
"Yes, you will understand why I chose you one day. Right now, the Prophet of the Day and some other gods have slowed them down, so you don't need to rush. Your task now is to obtain as much power as possible from the gods on the continent of Ver, especially the power of the six main gods."
"What? How many gods' favorites would I have to become? How many proverbs would I have to fulfill? Wouldn't that be exhausting? Since you want me to merge all the powers, why don't you just give me all the powers directly, oh, except for that fallen Son of Night."
Three gods are enough to keep him busy. If there are so many more gods, wouldn't he be exhausted?
How can these gods be even more ruthless than capitalists?
Ansel laughed, and the laughter of a god was as light and pleasant as that of a human, although Phil Gray, looking up, could only vaguely see the corners of the other's mouth curving slightly.
"There are other ways to acquire power besides becoming a follower. You can explore further. As for why the power isn't given to you directly, firstly, not all of these gods agree with the method of fusing power. You need to find a way to persuade them. Secondly, only when you personally perceive this power can it be used by you. Giving it to you directly would only allow you to be controlled by these powers. What you need is to become the master of these powers."
"Okay, I understand. When can I come to rescue you? Also, you haven't said how you got trapped here. I understand that the God of Time and Space seems to have a good relationship with you. Why didn't He come to rescue you?"
Phil Gray hesitated for a moment, then asked again.
The deity before them did not look well; it seemed as if it might dry up and die at any moment, like the River of Fate.
"What binds me is one of the gods of the Abyss. You do not yet know His name. As for Watong and the others, they cannot save me at all. Only when you merge the power of the six main gods into one can you help me break this void bond."
Ansel shook his head.
"Okay, I will try my best to save you."
Phil Gray solemnly promised that, regardless of the circumstances, the god had given him a new life, allowing him to have a completely different destiny, as they had agreed upon.
"I'll see you off."
The white divine power of fate enveloped Phil Gray, and he felt everything around him become clear again. The scene in the square had not changed much; believers prostrated themselves on the ground, praising the miracle that had just occurred in beautiful language, while he himself was facing the statue of the god, his body somewhat stiff.
"Your Majesty, you've returned? You were just enveloped in divine radiance and stood motionless for a long time. Did the gods bestow some divine decree?"
The crowd asked anxiously on behalf of Bishop Dominic.
The others also stared at Phil Gray.
“Yes, the gods entrusted me with some matters, instructing me to revive the Church of Destiny. They haven’t forgotten us either; they haven’t descended to earth in recent years, having been busy with the affairs of the divine kingdom. They are moved by our devout faith and wish that the light of destiny will forever shine upon us,” Phil Gray said with a smile.
Although the god of fate seemed to have forgotten about His papacy on earth and didn't mention it at all, he could understand that He was too busy taking care of His own situation to care about the papacy.
But it doesn't matter, the Church of Destiny has him as its pope!
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