The world controlled by dice [Western Fantasy]

Angela Clayton heard a horrified scream that jolted her awake.

She was annoyed for a moment, not understanding why she was distracted.She took a deep breath and looked around quickly, trying to find the source of the scream.

Dorothea Grant stood beside her.They are all in front of the public library in Ramifa City.

"Get out of the way!" They heard a yell and subconsciously looked sideways.

Then Angela murmured, “I’m so crazy…”

In the thick darkness, they saw the torches, the silt pouring out of the sewer manhole cover and... and what?

"So many worms," ​​said Dorothea in disgust.

She and Angela sighed at the same time, then raised the time track in their hands.

They know that in the neighborhood not far away, and in the city farther away, everyone is fighting for the future, for their families, for survival, and for dawn.

"...How long are we before dawn?" Grenfell asked Aneurin while quickly making the potion.

Aneurin Moore was sent to Grenfell to help make the potion and pass on the finished potion at the same time.Anuilin glanced at the time, and said, "Ten hours."

"It's not short..." Grenfell murmured, "Can potions get to those who need them?"

He caught a glimpse of the battle taking place at the gate of the Historical Society, and then subconsciously looked back.But that scene has been frozen in his brain.A man wearing a hat—he took it off again, revealing two worm whiskers on his forehead.

"Oh, damn it." Grenfell's expression twisted, "Trisley will go crazy seeing this scene. Aneurin, close your eyes and draw the curtains."

"... Shut that damned sewer cover!" Eric Korens heard himself yell.

"We can't get through!" Darrell Hobbs answered his demand. "Those bugs... worms... worms... that's all, too many!"

Eric cursed.

"Don't be touched by those bugs, they will pollute us and make us mutate in an instant." A soft female voice said.

"Clarissa?" Eric asked, using invisible ritual powers to kill a - whatever, a bug.

"Yes. Bugs, watch out for bugs. Message from Second Corridor. They've identified it," replied Clarissa Burney.

"...The investigators have confirmed it?" Knight Commander Bunyan said incredulously, "But how could such a thing happen? How could this mutation happen in an instant?"

"So please tell the knights, Bunyan. They may have some kind of unknown pollution... or the source of the pollution." Catherine Kinsey buckled the buckles of her armor, "Come on, Dominique, some churches want to I can't keep it any longer."

She looked sideways out of the window, seeing fire, screams and blood.After a while, she said: "Things are worse than we thought, and this sacrilege must be stopped as soon as possible."

"...that's blasphemy!" Grosvenor yelled angrily.

"So we have to cooperate." There were two men sitting across from him, Josephine Morton and—the current Grand Duke of Const.And the latter said, "We don't have time."

"Send your guards, Your Excellency." Grosvenor's expression became very cold in an instant, "We have no time to wait for Mr. Xia's reply."

"...Mr. Xia?!" Forrest yelled, "You now expect Mr. Xia to come down from the sky and rescue you? Listen, the revealer at the gate of the Historical Society is going crazy—Nolan Hearst, I think you are crazy too!"

Dean Hurst showed a desperate expression: "I shouldn't have come to the Historical Society today, I just want to remind them..."

"Reminder of what? Reminder that there will be a fight today?" Forrest laughed coldly. "Pick up your pampered ass and go fight, idiot!"

"...Go to fight!" Jules Hans said hoarsely. He stood at the main entrance of the hall of Dane's court, his eyes trembling, looking at the crowds of terrifying mutant creatures outside, "We have only one way to fight." Alive!"

There were many people around him, but a shadow rushed out first.

"I want to fight from the beginning to the end." Colin Lane whispered, "And my shadow can imprison these bugs."

"...The shadow of the evil apostle can imprison these bugs." Ms. Bonita Aston said quickly, "We need more evil apostles, or let people learn this ritual now."

"Mr. Grace disagrees, there is a risk..."

"It's no use if he doesn't agree!" snapped Ms. Aston. "Now, immediately! Get the news to the front!"

"...the front line. This is a war," Horatio Dwight murmured. "I can...renew the honor...for the family. I need..."

Many images flashed quickly in his mind, including past events and fantasies about the future.

Finally, he just thought of a word, "Horatio, hold this door."

"The door." Horatio murmured in a low voice, "I see, first we need to confirm where these bugs come from."

"...Where did it come from?!" Alden Bridges said with a grim expression.

In front of him, the servant of the Bridges family said desperately: "The sewer, sir. We can't stop it, it has poured into the house."

Alden was stunned for a moment—he had once rejected this kind of pollution, but the group of people laughed grinningly, but let him go instead.Perhaps they have known for a long time that there will be such a day, there will be such a day... all human beings will become bugs!

"...the house is full of bugs!" cried Alva Gilini. "We have to get out of here! Dad, I told you earlier that we should listen to that Professor Noel and rather go to the church……"

"Be quiet, Alva!" Someone stopped his shout, with a slight desperation, "It's full of bugs outside too. We can't get out of here."

"Also, your grandmother had a heart attack and she was terrified," Alva's mother trembled. "We need a doctor."

"...doctor!" Lorenzo Grantham yelled, and he hurried to support Professor Aitley.The latter was working overtime in the office of the main castle of La Mifa University today, so he had no time to go home, so he could only welcome the attack of bugs here.

"Don't touch him!" Doctor Chester Fitzroy stopped him loudly, he strode over to check on Professor Aitley's condition, and then breathed a sigh of relief, "It was only scratched by those insect weapons gone."

"Bugs are different from worms?" Lorenzo asked anxiously.

"Bugs and people who are directly polluted by bugs, these two types have the ability to spread pollution." Chester said, "Bugs who have secondary pollution have no ability to contaminate for the time being."

Lorenzo nodded, repeating Chester's words to himself.

"What are you holding in your hand?" Chester asked suddenly.

"Fate card. Chef card." Lorenzo said weakly, "I won last time, relying on this card, so I use it as a talisman... This time, can we win?"

Chester pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "What is the attack ability of the Chef card?"

"Fire." Lorenzo replied blankly. "Because the chef is always in the kitchen, this card uses fire to attack."

"...these bugs are afraid of fire." Antonia Cumming made this inference calmly.

"Oh, what a pity. I just came to the publishing house to talk about the new book, but I encountered a bug infestation." Maynard Daves said with a sad face, "Why are there so many bugs?"

"Shut up, Maynard," Arvid Norton said angrily, "You are also a detective novelist, why can't you deduce the weaknesses of these bugs like Ms. Cumming?"

Maynard paused for a moment.

Doreen Lucas listened quietly, and then whispered, "They are afraid of fire, they are afraid of light, but they will calm down in the shadows."

"...so we have only two choices." Carol Hausmann concluded calmly, "either use fire and light to anger and kill these bugs, or use shadows to temporarily imprison them."

"Or, both ways." Mrs. Fuller said lightly, "catch them, and then, kill them."

The rest of the people looked at each other, then nodded in unison.

"Let's tell this conclusion to the frontline." Carol said wearily, "How is it with the ordinary people?"

"The west side is a bit better than we imagined, and many revelations hiding in the dark have stepped forward." One person replied, "As for the east side, after a short period of panic, it is now slowly under control.

"In addition, the church of the past has made great efforts. Their church has blessed many ordinary residents. The guards of the principality have also been dispatched."

"But their purpose can't be just that." Carol murmured, "Now the time is approaching zero."

"...It's almost twelve o'clock, Carlos, and the actors, you should all take a break." Ms. Heidi whispered.

The Lancelot Theater was as calm as ever.The actors are rehearsing on their own on the stage of the performance hall with excellent sound insulation.They played out Miss Garland's dream adventures over and over again.

"No, we can't stop." Garland said suddenly, her voice was still young and immature, with a little tiredness, but she tried to show a sincere and soft smile, "I want to do my best. We... …to do the best that can be done. For that happy ending.”

The rest of the older actors looked at the little girl with admiration.

Garland, on the other hand, looked at Arkwright.

After a while, she stretched out her small hand and said, "Mr. Arkwright, shall we cooperate?"

Arkwright stared blankly at her—the protagonist of Miss Garland's story, and the biggest villain—and then he laughed: "I see. I see what he means... Miss Garland, Pleasant cooperation."

He mumbled, barely making it out to the others.Subsequently, the temporarily suspended play continued.They repeated that ending—the ending of the dream adventure—over and over again.

That perfect, beautiful ending and ending.

At a certain moment, Arkwright stopped suddenly, and he looked towards the wall, as if his eyes could penetrate the wall, looking at the world outside the Lancelot Theatre.

Carlos Ranmier asked impatiently, "What happened?"

"……what happened?!"

"what is that!"

They heard the screams of young children.Amidst the flames and smoke, stench and blood, they saw a building, which was originally a grand and magnificent building in the center of the city, but now suddenly collapsed and turned into ruins.

——Central Cathedral of the Church of the Past.

The whole city seemed to stand still and silent in an instant.Insects and insects swarmed in, flapping their noses in the night, smelling the smell of fresh and immature blood.

But their progress stopped suddenly.

Nanissall Bryant stood there alone, expressionless.The flickering firelight in the night illuminated his small figure.

He murmured to himself: "Although the so-called father is a fool, he is still willing to let me live." He took out the card—the life card, and then smiled softly, "I am alive, I am alive." Here, so, the rest of the church will live."

He suddenly raised his eyes, stared at the swarms of bugs and bug-men in front of him, and said word by word: "Give, me, get out!"

"...Go away!" Anthony Finn yelled, pushing away those who blocked him, and then crawled to his mother's side.

"Irene! Irene!" Bertram yelled in panic, putting his arms around his wife.

"It's nothing." Irene coughed softly, "It's just a small cut. Don't worry."

She quickly looked at Anthony again.

They were in one of the churches of yesteryear.The attack from the outside shattered the window, and the glass pieces flew around. She cut herself just to let Anthony avoid a sharp piece of glass.

She carefully looked at her child with her eyes, and was relieved to confirm that Anthony was safe and sound.

Anthony stared at his mother.

"Are you crying?" asked Bertram suddenly.

"I didn't cry!" Anthony yelled in a crying voice.

Sparse laughter came from the side.That relaxed the tension a little bit.But when they looked around, saw the shattered glass, heard the endless screaming and buzzing of bugs outside, they couldn't cheer up anyway.

"The statue is broken." Suddenly, someone murmured.

Everyone looked over.Every Church of the Past has a statue of Antinam.The attack from outside the window just now caused the statue of Antinam to fall down and completely shatter.

They all looked at this scene, as well as the broken stones on the ground.Someone began to cry quietly.There was an obvious ominous premonition in their hearts.

Someone murmured, "It seems like the world is about to be destroyed."

"...Will the world be destroyed one day?" Hal Goss murmured in a low voice.

"No." Hurd Dreyson said in a low trembling voice, "they're just crazy... temporarily crazy."

In a farther place outside La Mifa City, in Biddle City in the Land of No Ashes, people were also attacked.Perhaps the attack here is not as crazy as the situation in Lamifa City, but the situation here is more varied.

Because of the time difference, it was not long before nightfall here, and many people with weird plants or flowers on their heads took to the street.They attack all humans in sight.

"What are we going to do?" said young Hal, almost in despair.

Hurd thought for a moment, then said firmly: "Take up your weapons, boy, we have nothing to do but kill them!"

"...Kill 'em!" Garrett Gielgud yelled.

"Chop off their gills for dinner!" Another sailor said more rudely, drawing laughter from the others.They have also been fighting for a while.

Garrett wiped the blood from his face and paused momentarily.His eyes looked at the other side of the city, or in other words, the other side of the world.

He murmured in a low voice, "I don't know what's going on with the professor."

"...I don't know what's going on in La Mifa City." Alfonso Carlisle said troubledly.To the west of the Never Emberlands, the sun has not yet set here.It was almost evening, and he walked up and down anxiously in the dim yellow light of the setting sun.

Angus Keyes stood aside, patted Alfonso on the shoulder, and whispered, "Don't worry too much, trust the professor."

"Of course I trust the professor!" Alfonso took a deep breath. "I was just thinking... if I could help."

"...help me, please," said Emil Harrison, "get that piece here."

A child obediently did it.

"What are you doing?" Nanisar returned to the nave of the central cathedral of the church in the past, and before he had time to drive away those bugs and bug people, he saw this strange scene.

A group of children—all sent by some noble families or merchant families for blessing—they were gathering around the collapsed statue of Antinam, seeming to piece together and search for something.

"Do you know Geisha?" Emil asked. "We all know."

"Of course I know," said Nanisar.

"So, do you know the puzzle?" Emil carefully compared the broken stones in his hand, and then heaved a sigh of relief - he found it."Right now, we're just facing a bigger piece of the puzzle," he said.

"...they are going to put together the statue of Antinam—Antinam?" Detective Jon heard the news with a smile on his face.

Elizabeth Hosier nodded. She just came over from the Central Cathedral and brought the latest news from that side.

With a little smile on her face, she said, "Those kids are pretty creative, aren't they? Maybe Antinam will be happy for them to do this."

"I guess so." Jon muttered, and his expression quickly turned serious. "How did they do it?"

"The guards of the church are not as strict as you think, even the central cathedral." Elizabeth replied, "Grosvenor underestimated the intensity of this attack.

"Of course, the direct reason...is because those people hid in the sewer of the church in advance, and then broke into the building from the inside."

"The sewer?" Jon was taken aback, "But haven't we checked it before?"

"So, I'm afraid only God knows how long they have been hiding." Elizabeth said, "Maybe, since 14 years ago."

Jon stared at her blankly.

"When that guy left Ramifa City, these people might have been hiding in it."

Jon fell into deep thought, and said, "So, what about the other buildings?" He paused, "The most important thing now is to clean up these bugs, and then..."

"...Block the sewer!" Dylan Mapa dealt with the inquiries of the residents of West City somewhat impatiently, because she had answered this question countless times, just because her map store was a striking landmark in the neighborhood.

"But, there are bugs, we can't go there at all." One said tremblingly.

"Burn it with fire!" Dylan said, her pupils revealed a cold and sarcasm color, "Remember, how you usually deal with this group of bugs, you will deal with them now. They are just bugs, at most they are numerous Just a little, don't be afraid!"

"...So, bugs are bugs after all." Jerome Langmire said slowly, "The power of ordinary people can deal with it, and it won't even be polluted, while the power of the revelator will be slightly more efficient."

"Exactly," said Eugenia Beard, "just... thorough enough to make sure every bug is killed. Plus, there's got to be a way to get rid of the contamination."

"Perhaps this can be handed over to our respected Professor Sirius Noel." Ranmire said slyly, and shared a smile with the businesswoman opposite, "At that time, we can cooperate, ma'am."

"As expected of you, Mr. Langmire. You still want to make money at this time." Eugenia rolled her eyes, she looked outside with some concern, and said, "We have to solve all this first."

"...This area has been cleaned up." Herman Grove breathed a sigh of relief, he looked at the arcade block of the October Market, and asked, "How about the few people who were rescued just now? "

"We can't communicate with them. They're terrified. Besides, they seem to be from Kansas." Herman's companion shrugged. "Let's talk to someone who can speak Kansas."

"Kansas?" said Herman incomprehensibly. "And, who speaks Kansas . . . oh, Mr. Cinder."

On the street corner came the figure of Cindo Playa, almost covered in blood—bug blood.He didn't go to kill insects, that's a bit overkill, so he has been killing those insects.

He used the ghost to observe the situation in the city, and at the same time wiped his hands in disgust.The blood of the bugman also gives people a viscous feeling, like a bug.He really thinks this group of shadow believers are crazy.

Staying in the sewers, hanging out with bugs, even turning themselves into bugs... are their heads really okay?

After wiping his hands temporarily, Qin Duo pulled out a chain from his collar.On a chain hung his wedding ring.Before doing it, he made such preparations in advance.He kissed his ring contentedly, as if kissing his beloved god in the air.

But at this moment, he was suddenly taken aback.

Because, through the ring, he suddenly discovered that the location of Sires was actually not far away from him—he meant that inside and outside the dream bubble, he seemed to be standing side by side with Sires, staring at the building in front of him together.

Arcades at the October Fair.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

That voice spoke slowly, with old age, decay, calm and leisurely indifference, or more deep emotions.He stood in a hidden corner shrouded in darkness, his eyes sizing up the comer calmly.

"It took me a long time to find you, too," replied Sirius. "Would you be happy to see this masterpiece?"

"I would like to call it..."The City of Ramifa in Fire." The man said softly, "He will cover those paintings with cobwebs...oh, the paintings that are dusty in the dark corners, forgotten by the world, Abandoned by the world."

Siles narrowed his eyes slightly.For a moment, he even felt a little surprised, but he covered up this emotion as if nothing had happened.

It was very peaceful around them, for everyone in the city—everything, indeed—was asleep except the two of them.

If within the dream bubble, Sirius can easily find this guy.But because he didn't appear in the dream bubble, Sirius had to spend a while looking for this man.

Finding his location at last surprised even Sirius.

Sidewalk in the arcades of the October Fair.

Qindo left three ghosts to Siles, and one of the ghosts reminded Siles through the puppet, telling him that there are living people here—living people who have not fallen asleep.

And so he found him—Ebenezer Const.

This is the first time he has met this... the former heir of the Duchy of Constance.To be honest, he already knew this man's life very well, but when he saw Ebenezer for the first time, he still looked at this man carefully.

Ebenezer Const looked very old now.Of course, he cannot be underestimated because of this, but he is indeed like an ordinary old man who has entered his twilight years.

14 years ago, he left the Principality of Const and went to Middleton.He might have been high-spirited at that time, but after 14 years, his eyes were so calm and deep, which almost surprised Sirius.

The success of the Shadow Believers is imminent, why is Ebenezer Konstant not excited?

"Would you like to walk around the streets of La Mifa City in the early morning with me, an old guy?" Ebenezer said suddenly, "Of course, don't bring your ghosts with you."

Siles didn't show any surprise.He just thought, is Ebenezer Const also dying soon?

He nodded and said, "Of course."

"...When I was young, I was a very proud person." Ebenezer said, they walked on the road together, keeping a safe but distant distance, "I didn't think I would believe in gods , I even hate Antinam very much."

"But in the end you changed."

"I saved that woman," Ebenezer said to himself, "I saved that woman who was lying in a pool of blood and had just given birth. She begged me to see the clay bowl. That clay bowl drank water.

"...Sounds incredible, doesn't it? She shouldn't have asked me, and I shouldn't have had water. But, it just happened. My brain—had an accident."

Siles' pupils shrunk.

He never imagined that the reason why Ebenezer Const became a shadow believer would be because of such a situation.

"Later I understood, because the woman didn't want to live anymore. The person she loved died, so she planned to die too. But she couldn't forget her duty-oh, the mind that was dazzled by love finally thought of her duty ——She wants to hand over the clay bowl to the Church of the Past.

"I guess this is what she was going to do, but she didn't have the strength to do it at the time, so she could only ask me. She might want me to check the condition of the clay bowl first, and then let me put the Clay bowl to take to the church of yesteryear.

"...but something went wrong. I was tainted. And then... there's no room for regret, sir."

Ebenezer was silent for a while.

Then he said, "We've got a last minute. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Anyway, you invented the 'Reincarnation' ritual, which is a genius idea. "

last time?Siles was slightly startled, he felt a little wary.

In addition, why did Ebenezer specifically mention the ceremony of "self-reappearance" at this time?

Because of the help of this ceremony, Forrest was willing to mention the information he knew to Siles.But... Could it be that Ebenezer also got rid of his own pollution?

They stopped for a while.

They had reached Atherton Square, and not far away, the central cathedral of the old church still stood.In the dream, that building has been destroyed.But in reality, it's still intact.

Ebenezer seemed to sigh in admiration, and he said, "Under the influence of your power, I can no longer distinguish between reality and illusion."

Siles felt even more strange.He had a guess, but he didn't think it was necessary to think about it at this time.He simply asked, "Well, the first question I want to ask is...what did Josephine lie to you about?"

"Oh, the curiosity of youth," Ebenezer said, "can be fatal sometimes."

There was no aggression in his tone, but Sirius could hear it.He said noncommittally: "Everything has both advantages and disadvantages."

Ebenezer seemed to show a sarcastic expression, and he said, "That's very simple."

Siles listened attentively.

"She said that He wants to get this world, in order to get what He wants." Ebenezer slowly repeated this statement, and then showed a sneer, "How ridiculous!"

Siles frowned slightly, he actually didn't understand why Ebenezer was so angry, after all - isn't that right?

However, Ebenezer's implication is very clear.

"At that time, He chose to contact Josephine." Siles said with certainty.

"Because her soul is strong enough." Ebenezer laughed in a low voice, with complete coldness and sarcasm, "So, the least devout believer gets the best reward."

"...So, it was Josephine who relayed His request."

"She said nine truths and one half-truth," Ebenezer said. "We did the first things, but we failed at the end."

In the dark night, Siles saw Ebenezer's almost crazy eyes.

"...Because He didn't want to get this world. He wanted to devour this world." Ebenezer murmured.His eyes were on the night sky above him.

Against the backdrop of the silent Lamifa City, the starry sky is even more silent.

It was a heavy oppressive feeling.When people look up at the stars, they imagine life similar to themselves living on other planets.But, that's just human egocentric arrogance.

Why do other existences have to care about the life and death of human beings?

"...He will devour you too." Siles said calmly.

However, he finally realized that his thoughts were not wrong.That sense of strangeness is not fake—that sense of dissonance.

Shadow Believer, no, to be precise, Ebenezer Const, he did...

"...We had another choice." Ebenezer suddenly looked at Sirius, his eyes were bloodshot.For a moment, Sirius almost thought he was looking into a pair of compound eyes of insects.

But when he blinked a little, the mutation that appeared on Ebenezer seemed to disappear.Ebenezer himself didn't seem to notice it at all.

"We could have...not chosen that," he said.

"It makes no difference to Fisher World."

"But it makes a huge difference to us!" Ebenezer said almost angrily.He took a breath, letting himself slowly calm down.

Siles said in a cold tone: "One kind, you don't have to die; the other kind, you have to die too."

He felt a little funny, and the corners of his lips curled into a cold arc.

"...she should have told us. We could use the power of the circus and we wouldn't have to die," Ebenezer said, "but she kept it secret...she lied to me! She's going to let us die !"

"However, He may not be willing." Siles said objectively, "It's just your wishful thinking."

He thought about it, realizing that it was indeed a fork in the road.

"Shadow" informed his followers of his intentions, but he chose one—a less pious follower.He obviously hopes to become the god of Fisher's world, and then use this method to find "destiny".

But when Josephine relayed this purpose to other shadow believers, she chose a very tricky statement. She said that he wanted to "get" the world, not "devour" the world.

This statement made the shadow believers very excited, as if they were finally being paid attention to by the gods they believed in.But it is not until the end that they realize that they themselves will die - and at this very moment.

Perhaps ordinary shadow believers would be very willing to be swallowed by the "shadow", but Ebenezer Konstant was not.See what he said - "pollution", he denounced the power of "shadow" as a kind of pollution.

It's hard to say whether this has something to do with the "self-reincarnation" ritual, or Ebenezer's nature is so arrogant, or Ebenezer's anger at being deceived and realizing that he is in trouble.

He finally had a second heart.

He may have no way to resist, and it may be too late to resist.All actions are well prepared, they have started that plan, and there is no going back.

... But then again, why would Ebenezer Const realize that he was being deceived?

Siles pondered for a moment, then said, "Why did you choose to kill Jeremy Forbes?"

Ebenezer seemed to take a sharp breath.He said suddenly: "You are really curious, aren't you?"

Siles stared at him indifferently.

Ebenezer said indifferently: "However, you guessed right. Let me use this last time to tell you a story. It's quite a long story, but you may already understand some parts of it." .”

Siles didn't answer, but he did realize that Ebenezer had emphasized "the last time" again.So their time is indeed running out.

In addition, Siles' previous concealment method seemed to be quite effective. At least Ebenezer didn't seem to know much about the progress of Siles' investigation.

Ebenezer showed a mocking smile: "It was Wednesday night. If I remember correctly, he came to apologize for the... attempted murder at the trade fair."

In the quiet and empty late night, it seemed that only Ebenezer's voice echoed in the city.

Ebenezer said: "He made a mistake, so he had to find a way to recover the damage - I told him he had to prove his worth so I wouldn't punish him.

"So he said two things, and the first thing was the circus, which just annoyed me even more.

"Last year, at our internal meeting, we heard that someone had reported something about the circus. I was a little interested, so I asked the Fillmore family to take a closer look.

"At that time I had